litmus

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English - English
A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens, that changes color when exposed to pH levels greater than or less than certain critical levels
A simple test of any attribute; a litmus test
A simple test of acidity in a liquid using litmus, usually in the form of litmus paper
{n} a blue pigment used in painting
A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens
a chemical that turns red when it touches acid, and blue when it touches an alkali (litmosi, from litr + mosi ). Mixture of coloured organic compounds obtained from several species of lichens. In the form of a water solution or as litmus paper, it is the oldest and most-used indicator of whether a substance is an acid or a base. It turns red or pink in acid solutions and blue or purple-blue in alkaline solutions
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
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
{i} blue coloring substance extracted from lichens which turns red in acids and is restored to blue in alkalis (used as a chemical indicator)
turnsole
litmus paper
Paper containing a water-soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from certain lichens. The resulting piece of paper is used to test materials for acidity
litmus test
A simple test for the acidity or alkalinity of a substance, using litmus paper
litmus test
Any test which produces a decisive result by measuring a single indicator

He opposes a constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage—a litmus test for many social conservatives.

litmus tests
plural form of litmus test
litmus paper
paper covered in a special substance and used to detect acids and bases
litmus paper
An unsized white paper impregnated with litmus and used as a pH or acid-base indicator. paper containing litmus, used to test whether a chemical is an acid or an alkali
litmus paper
unsized paper treated with litmus for use as an acid-base indicator
litmus test
a test that relies on a single indicator; "her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives
litmus test
a test that relies on a single indicator; "her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives"
litmus test
use of litmus paper to test the alkalinity or acidity of a solution (Chemistry); test in which one particular event or quality serves as the decisive factor (Figurative)
litmus test
If you say that something is a litmus test of something, you mean that it is an effective and definite way of proving it or measuring it. Ending the fighting must be the absolute priority, the litmus test of the agreements' validity The success of wind power represents a litmus test for renewable energy
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
litmus

    Hyphenation

    lit·mus

    Turkish pronunciation

    lîtmıs

    Synonyms

    lacmus

    Pronunciation

    /ˈlətməs/ /ˈlɪtməs/

    Etymology

    () 1495, earlier lytmos, from Old Norse litmosi (“moss used for dyeing”), from lita (“to dye, stain”), from litr (“colour, dye, blee”), from Proto-Germanic *wlitiz, *wlituz (“appearance, blee”), from Proto-Indo-European *wel- (“to see”) + mosi (“moss”). Cognate with Old English wlite (“appearance, form, brightness, countenance”). More at moss.
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