noun

litmus

LIT-muss

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Litmus (noun) means a dye taken from certain lichens that changes colour depending on whether it touches an acid or an alkali. Example: “The lab technician dipped a strip of litmus into the solution.”

noun

A dye taken from certain lichens that changes colour depending on whether it touches an acid or an alkali.

"The lab technician dipped a strip of litmus into the solution."

"Litmus turns red in acid and blue in alkali."

"Litmus paper is a quick way to check whether a liquid is acidic."

How to use litmus

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishLitmus is a dye chemists use to test whether something is acidic or alkaline.

When to use it

It is a chemistry term, most familiar from school science lessons and laboratory work.

Memory tip

Picture litmus paper changing colour in a test tube; that colour change is the whole point of the word.

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Easily confused with

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Common pairings

litmus paper litmus test turn litmus red turn litmus blue

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

Test yourself on “litmus” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage →

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

The lab technician dipped a strip of _____ into the solution.

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.

Origin: Old Norse

Synonyms

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Related words

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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.

What is the meaning of litmus?

"litmus" (noun) means a dye taken from certain lichens that changes colour depending on whether it touches an acid or an alkali.

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