Meaning
One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, soda ash, caustic soda, potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing characteristics are dissolving in alcohol and water, uniting with oils and fats to form soap, neutralizing and forming salts with acids, turning to brown several vegetable yellows, and changing reddened litmus to blue.
Etymology
Origin: Latin
Etymology tree Arabic اَلْقِلْي (al-qily)der. Medieval Latin alcalibor. French alcalibor. English alkali From French alcali, from Medieval Latin alcali, ultimately from Arabic اَلْقِلْي (al-qily, “alkali, ashes (in reference to ashes of the saltwort)”), related to قَلَى (qalā, “to roast in a pan, fry”).
Synonyms & Antonyms
Antonyms
NYT Puzzle Appearances
Accepted in 6 recorded puzzles: