alum
Alum (noun) means a crystalline mineral salt of aluminium, traditionally used in dyeing, tanning, and as an astringent. Example: “A stick of alum can be used to soothe small shaving cuts.”
How to use alum
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishEither a mineral salt used in tanning and cooking, or a casual word for a graduate.
Don't confuse with "alumni," which is specifically the plural form of graduates.
Word forms
alumed past tense, alums plural, alums plural, alumni plural, alums singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
A stick of _____ can be used to soothe small shaving cuts.
Etymology
From Latin alumen via Anglo-Norman alum — unrelated in origin to the graduate sense, which is a modern short form of "alumnus/alumna."
Synonyms
View more →Rhymes for alum
See all rhymes for alum →Frequently asked questions
What does “alum” mean?
The word “alum” means a crystalline mineral salt of aluminium, traditionally used in dyeing, tanning, and as an astringent. In plain terms, either a mineral salt used in tanning and cooking, or a casual word for a graduate.
How do you pronounce “alum”?
“Alum” is pronounced AL-uhm (/ˈæl.əm/ in IPA).
How do you use “alum” in a sentence?
Here is “alum” used in a sentence: “A stick of alum can be used to soothe small shaving cuts.”
What is another word for “alum”?
Words with a similar meaning to “alum” include potash alum.
What part of speech is “alum”?
“Alum” is a noun.
Where does the word “alum” come from?
The word “alum” comes from Latin. From Latin alumen via Anglo-Norman alum — unrelated in origin to the graduate sense, which is a modern short form of "alumnus/alumna.".
Is “alum” a common word?
“Alum” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “alum” have?
“Alum” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a crystalline mineral salt of aluminium, traditionally used in dyeing, tanning, and as an astringent.
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