alum (redirected from alums)

al·um ¹  (lm)

n.

Any of various double sulfates of a trivalent metal such as aluminum, chromium, or iron and a univalent metal such as potassium or sodium, especially aluminum potassium sulfate, AlK(SO₄)₂·12H₂O, widely used in industry as clarifiers, hardeners, and purifiers and medicinally as topical astringents and styptics.

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[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin almen.]

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alum

Noun

Chem a double sulphate of aluminium and potassium, used in manufacturing and in medicine [Latin alumen]

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alum  (lm)

Any of various crystalline double salts of a trivalent metal (such as aluminum, chromium, or iron) and a monovalent metal (such as potassium or sodium), especially aluminum potassium sulfate. Alum is widely used in industry as a hardener and purifier, and in medicine as an emetic and to stop bleeding.

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	alum - a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum ammonia alum, ammonium alum Al, aluminium, aluminum, atomic number 13 - a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite double salt - a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization
	2.	alum - a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the potassium double sulfate of aluminum potash alum, potassium alum Al, aluminium, aluminum, atomic number 13 - a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite double salt - a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization
	3.	alum - a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university) alumna, alumnus, graduate, grad Ivy Leaguer - a student or graduate at an Ivy League school old boy - a former male pupil of a school bookman, scholar, scholarly person, student - a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines
	4.	alum - a double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things) astringent, astringent drug, styptic - a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals