LITMUS Definition & Meaning

litmus

[lit-muhs]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

a blue coloring matter obtained from certain lichens, especially Roccella tinctoria. In alkaline solution litmus turns blue, in acid solution, red: widely used as a chemical indicator.

litmus

/ ˈ��ɪ�ٳ�ə�� /

a soluble powder obtained from certain lichens. It turns red under acid conditions and blue under basic conditions and is used as an indicator

litmus

A colored powder, obtained from certain lichens, that changes to red in an acid solution and to blue in an alkaline solution. Litmus is a mixture of various closely related heterocyclic organic compounds.
◆ Litmus is typically added to paper to make litmus paper, which can be used to determine whether a solution is basic or acidic by dipping a strip of the paper into the solution and seeing how the paper changes color.

litmus

In chemistry, a kind of paper used to tell whether a solution is an acid or a base. Acids turn blue litmus paper red; bases turn red litmus paper blue. Other testing paper or sophisticated instruments can be used to measure the pH of a solution more precisely.

Discover More

The term litmus is often used to refer to a general and simple test: “Your vote on this issue is a litmus test of your political philosophy.”

Discover More

Origin of litmus¹

1495–1505; earlier lytmos < Old Norse litmosi dye-moss, equivalent to lit- color, dye + mosi moss

Discover More

Origin of litmus¹

C16: perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse litmosi, from litr dye + mosi moss

Discover More

Examples have not been reviewed.

The heat is a litmus test of where my mental edges are at — how long I need to return to my body after the week’s stresses.

From

The provocative images that Mike White leaves viewers to consider provide a litmus test of our own hidden desires and twisted worldviews.

From

Vouchers got tied up in the culture war and became a litmus test for which side of the culture war a legislator stands on.

From

Each of the points is a litmus test for the viewer.

From

It is a litmus test for the ICC's ability to function effectively in an increasingly polarised climate.

From

Browse