litmus
1 synonym for litmus, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A dye taken from certain lichens that changes colour depending on whether it touches an acid or an alkali.
How to use litmus
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
litmus paper
litmus test
turn litmus red
turn litmus blue
It is a chemistry term, most familiar from school science lessons and laboratory work.
Etymology
Litmus traces back to Old Norse litmosi, meaning moss used for dyeing, itself formed from lita, to dye or stain, and mosi, moss. The dye root is related to an old word for colour or appearance.
Full origin of litmus →Frequently asked questions
What is litmus made from?
It is a dye extracted from certain lichens.
What does litmus do?
It changes colour depending on the acidity or alkalinity of a liquid, which makes it useful for testing pH.
Where does the word litmus come from?
It comes from an Old Norse word meaning moss used for dyeing, built from words for dye and moss.
