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ALKALI

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al⋅ka⋅li

  [al-kuh-lahy] noun, plural -lis, -lies, adjective
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–noun
1. Chemistry.
a. any of various bases, the hydroxides of the alkali metals and of ammonium, that neutralize acids to form salts and turn red litmus paper blue.
b. any of various other more or less active bases, as calcium hydroxide.
c. (not in technical use) an alkali metal.
d. Obsolete. any of various other compounds, as the carbonates of sodium and potassium.
2. Agriculture. a soluble mineral salt or a mixture of soluble salts, present in some soils, esp. in arid regions, and detrimental to the growing of most crops.
–adjective
3. Chemistry. alkaline.
Origin:
1300–50; ME alkaly < MF alcali < dial. Ar al-qalī, var. of Ar qily saltwort ashes
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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al·ka·li   (āl'kə-lī')   
n.   pl. al·ka·lis or al·ka·lies

  1. A carbonate or hydroxide of an alkali metal, the aqueous solution of which is bitter, slippery, caustic, and characteristically basic in reactions.

  2. Any of various soluble mineral salts found in natural water and arid soils.

  3. Alkali metal.

  4. A substance having highly basic properties; a strong base.


[Middle English, alkaline substance from calcined plant ashes, from Medieval Latin, from Arabic al-qily, the ashes, lye, potash : al-, the + qily, ashes (from qalā, to fry, roast; see qly in Semitic roots).]
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Cultural Dictionary

alkali [(al-kuh-leye)]

A bitter, caustic mineral often found in large beds in the desert. Alkalis are bases; two common examples are lye and ammonia.

Note: Plants have difficulty growing in soil that is rich in alkalis.
The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

alkali 
c.1386, "soda ash," from M.L. alkali, from Arabic al-qaliy "the ashes" (of saltwort, a plant growing in alkaline soils), from qalay "to roast in a pan." The modern chemistry sense is from 1813. Alkaline is attested from 1677.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: al·ka·li
Pronunciation: 'al-k&-"lI
Function: noun
Inflected Form: plural -lies or -lis
: asubstance (as a hydroxide or carbonate of an alkali metal) having marked basic properties —compare BASE
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

alkali al·ka·li (āl'kə-lī')
n. pl. al·ka·lis

  1. A carbonate or hydroxide of an alkali metal, the aqueous solution of which is bitter, slippery, caustic, and characteristically basic in reactions.

  2. Any of various soluble mineral salts found in natural water and arid soils.

  3. Alkali metal.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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