Alum Definition

ăləm
alums
noun
alums
A double sulfate of a monovalent metal or radical (as sodium, potassium, or ammonium) with a trivalent metal (as aluminum, iron, or chromium): it is used as an astringent, as an emetic, and in the manufacture of baking powders, dyes, and paper: the most common form is potash alum (potassium aluminum sulfate), KAl(SO4)212H2O.
Webster's New World
An alumna or alumnus.
American Heritage
Aluminum sulfate.
Webster's New World
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 hydrous aluminum potassium sulfate, AlK(SO4 )2 · 12H2 O, widely used in industry as clarifiers, hardeners, and purifiers and medicinally as topical astringents and styptics.
American Heritage Medicine

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 (K2SO4.Al2(SO4)3.24H2O). [from 14th c.]

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
verb

To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum.

Wiktionary

Other Word Forms of Alum

Noun

Singular:
alum
Plural:
alums

Origin of Alum

  • From Anglo-Norman alum, alume et al., Middle French allume, from Latin alūmen (“alumen”).

    From Wiktionary

  • From alumnus and alumna, by removal of the non-native, gender-specific endings.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English from Old French from Latin alūmen

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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