alum
1
8.2
- noun
- /ˈæl.əm/
- Specialized
:
alumbre
- The wool was dyed by the ancient traditional method, boiling the dried insects and using alum as a mordant.
- dose of alum
- alum is used
Examples
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Alum also changes the phosphorus in the litter to a form that is less soluble in water.
Academic text (1999) -
The residue contains trace elements—particularly iron—removed from the drinking water by alum and lime.
Academic text (1999) -
Braudel urged me to begin research in Roman archives on alum, a topic about which I knew very little.
Academic text (2010) -
We needed to know near real-time levels to allow us better control over the alum dosing.
Academic text (2002) -
Alum is a double sulfate of aluminum and potassium that was essential for the production of textiles.
Academic text (2010) -
The oasis was also known for its mineral resources, including alum, an ingredient in mummification, medicines, tanning, and dyeing, and ochers, used in paint and cosmetics.
Academic text (2008) -
A cup of sand, a half a cup of water, alum, and then you stir it together on the stove.
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In plants with newer equipment, alarms signal when alum levels are too low, and more is added automatically.
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Prepare a tanning solution of 4 gallons of water, 1 pound of granulated alum, and 1 pound of salt.
Synonyms
A white crystal used to dye cloth, purify water, and treat skin
A white crystal people use to clean water, help dye cloth, and make skin less oily
A white crystal used to clean water and help dye stick to cloth
A white crystal salt used to fix dye on cloth and to clean water
A violet salt used to tan leather and help dyes stay on fabric
Compounds
- Specialized
A white crystal people use to clean water, help dye cloth, and make skin less oily
Surface Forms
Etymology
The word alum comes from the Latin alumen, which meant 'bitter salt' and was used long ago for dyeing and preserving. So the modern alum is a kind of salt used in dyeing, to stop bleeding after shaving, and to help clean water.