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alums - 4 dictionary results

al⋅um

1  [al-uhm]
Use alums in a Sentence
–noun Chemistry.
1. Also called potash alum, potassium alum. a crystalline solid, aluminum potassium sulfate, K2SO4·Al2(SO4)3·24H2O, 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 R2SO4·X2(SO4)3·24H2O, 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.
Origin:
1275–1325; ME < AF < L alūmen; r. OE alefne, ælifnæ < OWelsh (cf. MWelsh elyf) < L alūmini- (s. of alūmen)

a⋅lum

2  [uh-luhm]
–noun Informal.
an alumna or alumnus.
Origin:
by shortening
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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a·lum 2   (ə-lŭm')   
n.   Informal
An alumna or alumnus.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
Cite This Source
alum   (āl'əm)  Pronunciation Key 
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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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