Alkali definition
Lye and calcium carbonate are each an example of an alkali.
Other Word Forms
Noun
Origin of alkali
- 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 qly in Semitic roots)
From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition
- French alcali, ultimately from Arabic القلي (al-qilī, “ashes of the saltwort”), from قلى (qalā, “to roast in a pan, fry”).
From Wiktionary