litmus : Dictionary / Wörterbuch (BEOLINGUS, TU Chemnitz)

English Dictionary: litmus	by the DICT Development Group
2 results for litmus
From WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006) [wn]:
litmus n 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 Synonym(s): litmus, litmus test
From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]:
Litmus \Lit"mus\, n. [D. lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of fruit, pap, prob. akin to E. meat: cf. G. lackmus. See {Lac} a resinous substance.] (Chem.) 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. Note: Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to its blue color by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity and alkalinity. {Litmus paper} (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, -- used in testing for acids or alkalies.