n. [ OE. alum, alom, OF. alum, F. alun, fr. L. alumen alum. ] (Chem.) A double sulphate formed of aluminium and some other element (esp. an alkali metal) or of aluminium. It has twenty-four molecules of water of crystallization. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Common alum is the double sulphate of aluminium and potassium. It is white, transparent, very astringent, and crystallizes easily in octahedrons. The term is extended so as to include other double sulphates similar to alum in formula. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To steep in, or otherwise impregnate with, a solution of alum; to treat with alum. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L. ] (Chem.) Alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. alumen, aluminis. See Alum. ] (Chem.) One of the earths, consisting of two parts of aluminium and three of oxygen, Al2O3. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ It is the oxide of the metal aluminium, the base of aluminous salts, a constituent of a large part of the earthy siliceous minerals, as the feldspars, micas, scapolites, etc., and the characterizing ingredient of common clay, in which it exists as an impure silicate with water, resulting from the decomposition of other aluminous minerals. In its natural state, it is the mineral corundum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A compound formed from the hydrate of aluminium by the substitution of a metal for the hydrogen. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Combined with alumina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. ] Alumina. Davy. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of or containing aluminium; as, aluminic phosphate. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alumen alum + -ferous: cf. F. aluminifère. ] Containing alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. alumen + -form. ] Having the form of alumina. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. alumen. See Alum. ] (Chem.) same as aluminum, chiefly British in usage. [ 1913 Webster ]

Aluminium bronze or
gold, a pale gold-colored alloy of aluminium and copper, used for journal bearings, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To treat or impregnate with alum; to alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Alumin-ium + -graphy. ] Art or process of producing, and printing from, aluminium plates, after the manner of ordinary lithography. -- A*lu`mi*no*graph"ic a. [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

a. [ L. aluminosus, fr. alumen alum: cf. F. alumineux. ] Pertaining to or containing alum, or alumina; as, aluminous minerals, aluminous solution. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. The metallic element forming the base of alumina. This metal is white, but with a bluish tinge, and is remarkable for its resistance to oxidation, and for its lightness, having a specific gravity of about 2.6. Atomic weight 27.08. Symbol Al. Also called aluminium. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

a. Somewhat like alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. fem.; pl. Alumnæ /plu> . [ L. See Alumnus. ] A female pupil; especially, a graduate of a school or college. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Alumni [ L., fr. alere to nourish. ] A pupil; especially, a graduate of a college or other seminary of learning. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Bot.) A North American herb (Heuchera Americana) of the Saxifrage family, whose root has astringent properties. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } (Min.) A variety of shale or clay slate, containing iron pyrites, the decomposition of which leads to the formation of alum, which often effloresces on the rock. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Min.) A subsulphate of alumina and potash; alunite. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ from kalumb, its native name in Mozambique. ] (Med.) The root of a plant (Jateorrhiza Calumba, and probably Cocculus palmatus), indigenous in Mozambique. It has an unpleasantly bitter taste, and is used as a tonic and antiseptic. [ Written also colombo, columbo, and calombo. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

American calumba, the Frasera Carolinensis, also called American gentian. Its root has been used in medicine as bitter tonic in place of calumba. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) A bitter principle extracted as a white crystalline substance from the calumba root. [ Written also colombin, and columbin ] [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ F. calumet, fr. L. calamus reed. See Halm, and cf. Shawm. ] A kind of pipe, used by the North American Indians for smoking tobacco. The bowl is usually made of soft red stone, and the tube is a long reed often ornamented with feathers. [ 1913 Webster ]

Smoked the calumet, the Peace pipe,
As a signal to the nations. Lowgfellow. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The calumet is used as a symbol of peace. To accept the calumet is to agree to terms of peace, and to refuse it is to reject them. The calumet of peace is used to seal or ratify contracts and alliances, and as an evidence to strangers that they are welcome. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Calumniated; p. pr. & vb. n. calumniating. ] [ L. calumniatus, p. p. of calumniari. See Calumny, and cf. Challenge, v. t. ] To accuse falsely and maliciously of a crime or offense, or of something disreputable; to slander; to libel. [ 1913 Webster ]

Hatred unto the truth did always falsely report and calumniate all godly men's doings. Strype. [ 1913 Webster ]

Syn. -- To asperse; slander; defame; vilify; traduce; belie; bespatter; blacken; libel. See Asperse. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To propagate evil reports with a design to injure the reputation of another; to make purposely false charges of some offense or crime. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. False accusation of crime or offense, or a malicious and false representation of the words or actions of another, with a view to injure his good name. [ 1913 Webster ]

The calumniation of her principal counselors. Bacon. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ L. ] One who calumniates.

Syn. -- Slanderer; defamer; libeler; traducer. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Containing calumny; slanderous. Montagu. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ L. calumniosus. ] Containing or implying calumny; false, malicious, and injurious to reputation; slanderous; as, calumnious reports. [ 1913 Webster ]

Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes. Shak.

. Slanderous; defamatory; scurrilous; opprobrious; derogatory; libelous; abusive.

-- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ly, adv. -- Ca*lum"ni*ous*ness, n. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Calumnies [ L. calumnia, fr. calvi to devise tricks, deceive; cf. F. calomnie. Cf. Challenge, n. ] False accusation of a crime or offense, maliciously made or reported, to the injury of another; malicious misrepresentation; slander; detraction. “Infamous calumnies.” Motley. [ 1913 Webster ]

Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Shak. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Chlorine + aluminium. ] An impure aqueous solution of chloride of aluminium, used as an antiseptic and disinfectant. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ L., fr. Gr. &unr_;&unr_;&unr_;&unr_; rattle. ] (Mus.) A kind of castanet used by the Corybantes. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A genus of American herbs and dwarf shrubs of the mind family; the dragonheads.
Syn. -- genus Dracocephalum. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

prop. n. [ a trademark. ] an aluminum-based alloy which is both light and strong, containing 4 per cent of copper and 0.5 per cent of magnesium and smaller amounts of iron, manganese, and silicon. It hardens with aging at room temperature. [ WordNet 1.5 +PJC ]

n. [ Skr. ēka one + E. aluminium. ] (Chem.) The name given by Mendeleev to a hypothetical element, -- later discovered and called gallium. See Gallium, and cf. Ekabor. Also see periodic table. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

‖n.; pl. Mala [ L. ] An evil. See Mala. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n.; pl. Petala [ NL. ] A petal. [ 1913 Webster ]

(Chem.) A kind of alum occuring in small fragments; -- so called from Rocca, in Syria, whence alum is said to have been obtained; -- also called rock alum. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖n. [ NL. See Sandalwood. ] (Bot.) A genus of trees with entire opposite leaves and small apetalous flowers. There are less than a dozen species, occurring from India to Australia and the Pacific Islands. See Sandalwood. [ 1913 Webster ]

‖ [ L., scandal of magnates. ] (Law) A defamatory speech or writing published to the injury of a person of dignity; -- usually abbreviated scan. mag. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ NL. So named on account of the perplexity and difficulty encounterd by its discoverer (Ekeberg) in isolating it. See Tantalus. ] (Chem.) A rare nonmetallic element found in certain minerals, as tantalite, samarskite, and fergusonite, and isolated as a dark powder which becomes steel-gray by burnishing. Symbol Ta. Atomic weight 182.0. Formerly called also tantalium. [ 1913 Webster ]