ALUM


Meaning of ALUM in English

alum 1

/al"euhm/ , n. Chem.

1. Also called potash alum, potassium alum . a crystalline solid, aluminum potassium sulfate, K 2 SO 4 ·Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ·24H 2 O, used in medicine as an astringent and styptic, in dyeing and tanning, and in many technical processes.

2. one of a class of double sulfates analogous to the potassium alum, as aluminum ammonium sulfate, having the general formula R 2 SO 4 ·X 2 (SO 4 ) 3 ·24H 2 O, where R is a univalent alkali metal or ammonium, and X one of a number of trivalent metals.

3. (not in technical use) aluminum sulfate.

[ 1275-1325; ME alumen; r. OE alefne, aelifnae elyf ) alumini- (s. of alumen ) ]

alum 2

/euh lum"/ , n. Informal.

an alumna or alumnus.

[ by shortening ]

Random House Webster's Unabridged English dictionary.      Полный английский словарь Вебстер - Random House .