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alum

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alum


  3  definitions  found 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Alum  \Al"um\,  n.  [OE.  alum,  alom,  OF  alum,  F.  alun,  fr  L. 
  alumen  alum.]  (Chem.) 
  A  double  sulphate  formed  of  aluminium  and  some  other  element 
  (esp.  an  alkali  metal)  or  of  aluminium.  It  has  twenty-four 
  molecules  of  water  of  crystallization. 
 
  Note:  Common  alum  is  the  double  sulphate  of  aluminium  and 
  potassium.  It  is  white,  transparent,  very  astringent, 
  and  crystallizes  easily  in  octahedrons.  The  term  is 
  extended  so  as  to  include  other  double  sulphates 
  similar  to  alum  in  formula. 
 
  From  Webster's  Revised  Unabridged  Dictionary  (1913)  [web1913]: 
 
  Alum  \Al"um\,  v.  t. 
  To  steep  in  or  otherwise  impregnate  with  a  solution  of 
  alum;  to  treat  with  alum.  --Ure. 
 
  From  WordNet  r  1.6  [wn]: 
 
  alum 
  n  1:  a  white  crystalline  double  sulfate  of  aluminum:  the  ammonium 
  double  sulfate  of  aluminum  [syn:  {ammonia  alum},  {ammonium 
  alum}] 
  2:  a  white  crystalline  double  sulfate  of  aluminum:  the 
  potassium  double  sulfate  of  aluminum  [syn:  {potassium  alum}, 
  {potash  alum}] 
  3:  a  person  who  has  received  a  degree  from  a  school  (high 
  school  or  college  or  university)  [syn:  {alumnus},  {alumna}, 
  {graduate},  {grad}] 
  4:  a  double  sulphate  of  aluminum  and  potassium  that  is  used  as 
  an  astringent  (among  other  things) 




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