See Also: Alkali(medicine)
alkali(encyclopedia)
alkali(dictionary)
alkali(dictionary)
alkali metal(medicine)
alkali metal(encyclopedia)
alkali feldspar(encyclopedia)
alkali disease(medicine)
vegetable alkali(medicine)
fixed alkali(medicine)

alkali (iou)



alkali noun. Pl. -s, -es. LME.
[medieval Latin from Arab. al-&kdbelow;ali the calcined ashes of Salsola etc.: see AL-2.]
1. A saline substance extracted from the calcined ashes of plants such as saltwort (genus Salsola) or glasswort (genus Salicornia); soda ash. LME.
2. A plant from which soda ash is obtained; saltwort, glasswort. Now rare or obsolete. L16.
3. Any substance which neutralizes or effervesces with acids and forms a caustic or corrosive solution in water; a water-soluble base, esp. a hydroxide. E17.
VOLATILE alkali.
4. A soluble salt or mixture of such salts existing in excess in the soil; terrain characterized by this. Freq. attrib. N. Amer. M19.
S. E. White The limitless alkali of the Arizona plains. attrib.: J. H. Beadle Little to see but..alkali flats and sand-hills.
Comb.: alkali metal Chemistry any of the elements occupying group IA of the periodic table (namely lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, caesium, francium), which are soft, reactive metals forming soluble hydroxides.
alkalify verb trans. make alkaline M19.
alkalious adjective = ALKALINE L17-M18.