ALUM

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does alum mean? 

• ALUM (noun)
  The noun ALUM has 4 senses:

1. a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum

2. a white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the potassium double sulfate of aluminum

3. a person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)

4. a double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things)

  Familiarity information: ALUM used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ALUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the ammonium double sulfate of aluminum

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

alum; ammonia alum; ammonium alum

Hypernyms ("alum" is a kind of...):

Al; aluminium; aluminum; atomic number 13 (a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite)

double salt (a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A white crystalline double sulfate of aluminum: the potassium double sulfate of aluminum

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

alum; potash alum; potassium alum

Hypernyms ("alum" is a kind of...):

Al; aluminium; aluminum; atomic number 13 (a silvery ductile metallic element found primarily in bauxite)

double salt (a solution of two simple salts that forms a single substance on crystallization)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A person who has received a degree from a school (high school or college or university)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

alum; alumna; alumnus; grad; graduate

Hypernyms ("alum" is a kind of...):

bookman; scholar; scholarly person; student (a learned person (especially in the humanities); someone who by long study has gained mastery in one or more disciplines)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "alum"):

Ivy Leaguer (a student or graduate at an Ivy League school)

old boy (a former male pupil of a school)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A double sulphate of aluminum and potassium that is used as an astringent (among other things)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("alum" is a kind of...):

astringent; astringent drug; styptic (a drug that causes contraction of body tissues and canals)