alum
English
/ˈæl.əm/, /əˈlʌm/
noun
Definitions
- An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (KO).
- (chemistry) Any similar double sulphate in which either or both of the potassium and aluminium is wholly or partly replaced by other univalent or tervalent cations.
Etymology
Inherited from Middle English alum derived from alum derived from Latin alūmen (alum).
Origin
Latin
alūmen
Gloss
alum