alums

Noun (1)

alum (countable and uncountable, plural alums)

1. An astringent salt, usually occurring in the form of pale crystals, much used in the dyeing and tanning trade and in certain medicines, and now understood to be a double sulphate of potassium and aluminium (K₂SO₄·Al₂(SO₄)₃·24H₂O).
   • Venice also needed alum for trade, since it was the point of departure for overland transportation of alum to southern Germany and its cloth-manufacturing Free Cities.1991, Felix Gilbert, The Pope, His Banker, and Venice, page 80
2. Any similar double sulphate in which either or both of the potassium and aluminium is wholly or partly replaced by other univalent or tervalent cations.
   • With weld and cochineal, which are colouring matters the most sensible to the action of sulphate of iron, the purified alums gave us colours more brilliant, fresh, and in a slight degree lighter; while those with our common alums were all duller, and evidently of a deeper hue.1807, William Nicholson, editor, A Journal of Natural Philosophy, Chemistry, and the Arts, volume XVIII, page 286

Noun (2)

alum (plural alums or alumni)

1. (Canada, US) A past attendee or graduate (of any gender) of a college, university or other educational institution.
   • Evanston-North Shore alums are happy to open their homes to Sigma actives for special social events.1961 Spring, Anchora of Delta Gamma, Volume LXXVII, No. 3, page 59

   Synonyms:

   alumni, alumnx

See all 4 meanings of alum