alkalescent

9.9

Slightly alkaline or likely to become alkaline

adjective
/ˌæl.kəˈlɛs.ənt/

Specialized

: alcalescente

The garden soil is slightly alkalescent, making it ideal for growing certain plants.

Examples

After adding baking soda, the solution turned alkalescent and began to bubble.
Stage one was characterized by "a perceptible clamminess of the skin and an acid gas," while stage two was marked by "an alkalescent vapour attended with an offensive odour."

Academic text (2014)
The water's alkalescent properties help neutralize acidity in the fish tank.

Synonyms

alkaline

vsalkalescent

3 5.0

Not acidic, having a pH above seven like baking soda

is gentler, referring to a slight or developing basic quality

alcalescent

vsalkalescent

Specialized

9.9

A liquid or soil that is slightly alkaline with a pH above neutral

has identical meaning but is an alternative spelling

alkalic

vsalkalescent

Specialized

7.7

Having a pH above seven so it is not acidic

is milder, meaning only slightly or tending toward basic

nonacidic

vsalkalescent

3.2

Not sour or acidic

is positive, showing a slight tendency to become basic

alkalotic

vsalkalescent

Specialized

9.9

Having too little acid in the blood or other body fluids

is a mild chemical tendency, not a clinical body disorder

Antonyms

acidic

23 3.9

Having a low pH like lemon juice or vinegar

How Alkaline

caustic

Specialized

8 7.6

alkaline

3 5.0

alkalescent

Specialized

9.9

neutral

Specialized

4 5.2

acidic

23 3.9

Surface Forms

alkalescent positive

Morphology

alkalescent = alkali (semi-transparent) = alkali + escent

The word is built from 'alkali' plus the learned suffix '-escent' meaning 'becoming', but the resulting adjective is specialized and not fully predictable for many learners.

Etymology

The word alkalescent comes from alkali, the same root behind alkaline, which came into English from Arabic 'al-qaliy' meaning 'ashes', and the ending -escent, which means 'becoming'. So alkalescent means 'becoming alkaline' or 'slightly alkaline', which is why we use it to describe things that are only a little basic.