alum definition by Wordo

Noun

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

(

K

<

sub

>

2

sub

>

SO

<

sub

>

4

sub

>·

Al

<

sub

>

2

sub

>(

SO

<

sub

>

4

sub

>)<

sub

>

3

sub

>·

24H

<

sub

>

2

sub

>

O

).

Verb

To

steep

in

,

or

otherwise

impregnate

with

,

a

solution

of

alum

;

to

treat

with

alum

.