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alum
1[al-uhm]
noun
Also called potassium alum.Also called potash alum.a crystalline solid, aluminum potassium sulfate, K 2 SO 4 ⋅Al 2 (SO4 ) 3 ⋅24H 2 O, used in medicine as an astringent and styptic, in dyeing and tanning, and in many technical processes.
one of a class of double sulfates analogous to aluminum potassium sulfate, as aluminum ammonium sulfate, having the general formula R 2 SO 4 ⋅X 2 (SO4 ) 3 ⋅24H 2 O, where R is a univalent alkali metal or ammonium, and X one of a number of trivalent metals.
(not in technical use) aluminum sulfate.
alum
2[uh-luhm]
alum.
3abbreviation
aluminum.
alum
/ ˈæə /
noun
Also called: potash alum.a colourless soluble hydrated double sulphate of aluminium and potassium used in the manufacture of mordants and pigments, in dressing leather and sizing paper, and in medicine as a styptic and astringent. Formula: K 2 SO 4 .Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 .24H 2 O
any of a group of isomorphic double sulphates of a monovalent metal or group and a trivalent metal. Formula: X 2 SO 4 .Y 2 (SO 4 ) 3 .24H 2 O, where X is monovalent and Y is trivalent
alum
Any of various crystalline double salts of a trivalent metal (such as aluminum, chromium, or iron) and a monovalent metal (such as potassium or sodium), especially aluminum potassium sulfate. Alum is widely used in industry as a hardener and purifier, and in medicine as an emetic and to stop bleeding.
Gender Note
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of alum1
Origin of alum2
51Թ History and Origins
Origin of alum1
Example Sentences
After his fellow Oprah alum, Dr. Mehmet Oz, ran for the Senate last year, McGraw shrugged off the notion that he would ever follow suit, saying he “doesn’t know enough about it.”
The Disney Channel alum’s mother appeared to confirm that the child is a baby boy.
Before co-founding Arc with fellow Northwestern alum Ryan Cook, Lee grew up in the Bay Area and frequently boated with his family.
The “Cory in the House” alum, 66, said he was first hospitalized when he was traveling.
The cause of death for the Vivienne, a ‘Drag Race’ alum and performer, has been revealed months after they died in January at age 32.
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When To Use
The informal word alum refers to a graduate of a school, such as a high school or university. It’s a shortening of alumnus or alumna.In Latin, alumnus specifically refers to a male graduate, and sometimes this distinction is carried into English, with alumna being used to refer to a female graduate. The plural of alumna is alumnae.The plural of alumnus is alumni (which follows the plural ending construction used in other Latin-derived words, like stimulus and stimuli). Still, alumnus and alumni are both commonly used in a gender-neutral way.Alum is also used regardless of gender. It’s sometimes pluralized as alums.Here’s an example of alum and alumni used correctly in the same sentence.Example: As an alum, you share something with all of the alumni, regardless of when each of you graduated. Want to learn more? Read the breakdown of the difference between alumnus and alumni.
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