Lexic.us

Definition of Litmus

1. Noun. 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.

Definition of Litmus

1. n. 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.

Definition of Litmus

1. Noun. A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens, that changes color when exposed to pH levels greater than or less than certain critical levels. ¹

2. Noun. A simple test of acidity in a liquid using litmus, usually in the form of litmus paper. ¹

3. Noun. A simple test of any attribute; a litmus test. ¹

¹ Source: wiktionary.com

Definition of Litmus

1. a blue coloring matter [n -ES]

Medical Definition of Litmus

1. 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 colouring matters related to orcin and orcein. Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to its blue colour by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity and alkalinity. Litmus paper, unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, used in testing for acids or alkalies. Origin: D. Lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of fruit, pap, prob. Akin to E. Meat: cf. G. Lackmus. See Lac a resinous substance. Source: Websters Dictionary (01 Mar 1998)

Lexicographical Neighbors of Litmus

Literary usage of Litmus

Below you will find example usage of this term as found in modern and/or classical literature:

1. Pharmaceutical Journal by Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (1851)
"US ON the 13th of June, 1849,1 communicated to the Pharmaceutical Society some information respecting the colouring matter of Dutch cake litmus. ..."

2. Proceedings of the Royal Society of London by Royal Society (Great Britain) (1907)
"3 dialysed litmus," which was used in the present case, contained—red litmus : mineral matter :: 17 :1. Ten cubic centimetres of this solution contained ..."

3. Productive Soils: The Fundamentals of Successful Soil Management and by Wilbert Walter Weir (1920)
"This test may also be made by placing the litmus paper in between two halves of a ball ... By means of a clean stick, the litmus paper is placed between two ..."

4. Manual of Qualitative Chemical Analysis by C. Remigius Fresenius, Samuel William Johnson (1874)
"Preparation,—Digest 1 part of litmus of commerce with 6 parts of water, ... The color of litmus paper must be perfectly uniform, and neither too light nor ..."

5. A Dictionary of Chemistry and the Allied Branches of Other Sciences by Henry Watts (1865)
"Our knowledge of the colouring matters of litmus is not very exact, but they aro probably ... Commercial litmus in powder is exhausted with boiling water, ..."

6. Chemical Technology and Analysis of Oils, Fats and Waxes by Julius Lewkowitsch (1921)
"litmus.—Tincture of litmus may be used in the analysis of fata for the ... It is quite possible to titrate butyric acid, using litmus as an indicator. ..."

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