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: Læ Lé L- L. La Lb Lc Ld Le Lf Lg Lh Li Lj Ll Lm Lo Lp Lr Ls Lt Lu Lv Lw Lx Ly

Table of Contents POS
HYPHEN
WORDNET DICTIONARY
CIDE DICTIONARY
OXFORD DICTIONARY

litmus

POS

Noun

HYPHEN

lit=mus

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WORDNET DICTIONARY

Noun litmus has 1 sense

litmus(n = noun.substance) litmus test - a coloring material (obtained from lichens) that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions; used as a very rough acid-base indicator; Array

is a kind of acid-base indicator

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CIDE DICTIONARY

litmus, n. [D. lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of fruit, pap, prob. akin to E. meat: cf. G. lackmus. See Lac a resinous substance.].

A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens (Roccella tinctoria, Lecanora tartarea, etc.), as a blue amorphous mass which consists of a compound of the alkaline carbonates with certain coloring matters related to orcin and orcein. [1913 Webster]

" Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to its blue color by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity and alkalinity." [1913 Webster]

Litmus paper (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, -- used in testing for acids or alkalies.

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OXFORD DICTIONARY

litmus, n. a dye obtained from lichens that is red under acid conditions and blue under alkaline conditions.

Idiom

litmus paper a paper stained with litmus to be used as a test for acids or alkalis.

Etymology

ME f. ONorw. litmosi f. ON litr dye + mosi moss

For further exploring for "litmus" in Webster Dictionary Online