*kal*

{ } n. A tendency to become alkaline; or the state of a substance in which alkaline properties begin to be developed, or to predominant. Ure. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. alcalescent. ] Tending to the properties of an alkali; slightly alkaline. [ 1913 Webster ]

n.; pl. Alkalis or Alkalies [ F. alcali, ultimately fr. Ar. alqalī ashes of the plant saltwort, fr. qalay to roast in a pan, fry. ] 1. Soda ash; caustic soda, caustic potash, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Chem.) One of a class of caustic bases, such as soda, potash, ammonia, and lithia, whose distinguishing peculiarities are solubility in alcohol and water, uniting with oils and fats to form soap, neutralizing and forming salts with acids, turning to brown several vegetable yellows, and changing reddened litmus to blue. [ 1913 Webster ]

3. Soluble mineral matter, other than common salt, contained in soils of natural waters. [ Western U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

Fixed alkalies, potash and soda. --
Vegetable alkalies. Same as Alkaloids. --
Volatile alkali, ammonia, so called in distinction from the fixed alkalies. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. having the properties of an alkali. Opposite of acidic. when used of aqueous solutions, it signifies that the solution has a pH greater than 7.
Syn. -- alkaline (vs. acidic), basic [ WordNet 1.5 ]

a. [ Cf. F. alcalifiable. ] Capable of being alkalified, or converted into an alkali. [ 1913 Webster ]

. A sterile plain, containing an excess of alkali, at the bottom of an undrained basin in an arid region; a playa. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Alkalified p. pr. & vb. n. Alkalifying. ] [ Alkali + -fly: cf. F. alcalifier. ] To convert into an alkali; to give alkaline properties to. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. To become changed into an alkali. [ 1913 Webster ]

. Any one of the univalent metals of group I of the periodic table of the elements, including lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium. The hydroxides of these metals are soluble in water and form strongly basic solutions. [ PJC. ]

n. [ Alkali + -meter. cf. F. alcalimètre. ] An instrument to ascertain the strength of alkalies, or the quantity of alkali in a mixture. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. Of or pertaining to alkalimetry. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcalimètrie. ] (Chem.) The art or process of ascertaining the strength of alkalies, or the quantity present in alkaline mixtures. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. [ Cf. F. alcalin. ] Of or pertaining to an alkali or to alkalies; having the properties of an alkali. [ 1913 Webster ]

Alkaline earths, certain substances, as lime, baryta, strontia, and magnesia, possessing some of the qualities of alkalies. --
Alkaline metals, potassium, sodium, cæsium, lithium, rubidium. --
Alkaline reaction, a reaction indicating alkalinity, as by the action on limits, turmeric, etc. [ 1913 Webster ]

adj. 1. thriving in a relatively alkaline environment; (especially of plants requiring a pH above 7) acid-loving
Syn. -- alkali-loving [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. The quality which constitutes an alkali; alkaline property. Thomson. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Alkaline. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

. Any one of various soils found in arid and semiarid regions, containing an unusual amount of soluble mineral salts which effloresce in the form of a powder or crust (usually white) in dry weather following rains or irrigation. The basis of these salts is mainly soda with a smaller amount of potash, and usually a little lime and magnesia. Two main classes of alkali are commonly distinguished: black alkali, which may be any alkaline carbonate, but which practically consists of sodium carbonate (sal soda), which is highly corrosive and destructive to vegetation; and white alkali, characterized by the presence of sodium sulphate (Glauber's salt), which is less injurious to vegetation. Black alkali is so called because water containing it dissolves humus, forming a dark-colored solution which, when it collects in puddles and evaporates, produces characteristic black spots. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

. Waste material from the manufacture of alkali; specif., soda waste. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

a. Alkaline. [ Obs. ] Boyle. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To alkalizate. [ R. ] Johnson. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Cf. F. alcalisation. ] The act of rendering alkaline by impregnating with an alkali; a conferring of alkaline qualities. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. [ imp. & p. p. Alkalized p. pr. & vb. n. Alkalizing ] [ Cf. F. alcaliser. ] To render alkaline; to communicate the properties of an alkali to. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Chem.) An organic base, especially one of a class of nitrogen-containing substances occurring ready formed in the tissues of plants and the bodies of animals. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ Alkaloids all contain nitrogen, carbon, and hydrogen, and many of them also contain oxygen. They include many of the active principles in plants; thus, morphine and narcotine are alkaloids found in opium. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ } a. [ Alkali + -oid: cf. F. alcaloïde. ] 1. Pertaining to, resembling, or containing, alkali. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. of or pertaining to alkaloids. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. 1. abnormally high alkalinity in the blood and other body fluids. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

adj. 1. of or pertaining to alkalosis. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

/mhw>, n. [ Pref. anti- + alkali. ] Anything that neutralizes, or that counteracts an alkaline tendency in the system. Hooper. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. Of power to counteract alkalies. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Etymol. uncertain. ] 1. A game played with sheep's bones instead of dice. [ Obs. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The bone used in playing the game; -- called also huckle bone. [ Obs. ] Nares. [ 1913 Webster ]

A little transverse bone
Which boys and bruckeled children call
(Playing for points and pins) cockal. Herrick. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ From cock + leek. ] A favorite soup in Scotland, made from a capon highly seasoned, and boiled with leeks and prunes; -- called also cocky-leeky. [ 1913 Webster ]

{ n. Also }. A kind of gambling game consisting in pitching coins to or towards the ceiling of a room so that they shall fall as near as possible to a certain crack in the floor. [ Gamblers' Cant, U. S. ] [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. Same as Decaliter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Skr. ēka one + E. aluminium. ] (Chem.) The name given by Mendeleev to a hypothetical element, -- later discovered and called gallium. See Gallium, and cf. Ekabor. Also see periodic table. [ 1913 Webster +PJC ]

n. [ F. franc free + Norm. F. almoigne alma, for almosne, F. aumône. See Frank, a., and Almoner. ] (Eng. Law) A tenure by which a religious corporation holds lands given to them and their successors forever, usually on condition of praying for the soul of the donor and his heirs; -- called also tenure by free alms. Burrill. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A leap or caper. [ Obs. ] B. Jonson. [ 1913 Webster ]

or . A time that will never come, as the Greeks had no calends. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

‖n. The central chapel of the three forming the sanctuary of a Coptic church. It contains the high altar, and is usually closed by an embroidered curtain. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Pers. shaghāl: cf. OF. jackal, F. chacal; cf. Skr. ç&rsdot_;gāla. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Zool.) Any one of several species of carnivorous animals inhabiting Africa and Asia, related to the dog and wolf. They are cowardly, nocturnal, and gregarious. They feed largely on carrion, and are noted for their piercing and dismal howling. [ 1913 Webster ]

☞ The common species of Southern Asia (Canis aureus) is yellowish gray, varied with brown on the shoulders, haunches, and legs. The common African species (Canis anthus) is darker in color. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. One who does mean work for another's advantage, as jackals were once thought to kill game which lions appropriated. [ Colloq. ] Ld. Lytton. [ 1913 Webster ]

prop. n. A desert in Southwestern Africa, most of which is located in the country of Botswana.
Syn. -- Kalahari Desert. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) The sea otter. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. A Philippine timber tree (Toona calantas or Cedrela calantas) having hard red fragrant wood.
Syn. -- Philippine mahogany, Philippine cedar, Toona calantas, Cedrela calantas. [ WordNet 1.5 ]

n. (Zool.) A long-tailed monkey of Borneo (Semnopithecus rubicundus). It has a tuft of long hair on the head. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Scot. kale, kail, cale, colewort, Gael. cael; akin to Ir. cal, W. cawl, Armor. kaol. See Cole. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

1. (Bot.) A variety of cabbage in which the leaves do not form a head, being nearly the original or wild form of the species. [ Written also kail, and cale. ] [ 1913 Webster ]

2. See Kail, 2. [ 1913 Webster ]

Sea kale (Bot.), a European cruciferous herb (Crambe maritima), often used as a pot herb; sea cabbage. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. (Zool.) One of several species of large, crested, Asiatic pheasants, belonging to the genus Euplocamus, and allied to the firebacks.

{ } [ Gr. &unr_; beautiful + &unr_; appearance, form + &unr_; sound. ] (Physics.) An instrument invented by Professor Wheatstone, consisting of a reflecting knob at the end of a vibrating rod or thin plate, for making visible, in the motion of a point of light reflected from the knob, the paths or curves corresponding with the musical notes produced by the vibrations. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. [ Gr. &unr_; beautiful + e'i^dos form + -scope. ] An instrument invented by Sir David Brewster, which contains loose fragments of colored glass, etc., and reflecting surfaces so arranged that changes of position exhibit its contents in an endless variety of beautiful colors and symmetrical forms. It has been much employed in arts of design. [ 1913 Webster ]

Shifting like the fragments of colored glass in the kaleidoscope. G. W. Cable.

{ } a. Of, pertaining to, or formed by, a kaleidoscope; variegated. [ 1913 Webster ]

n. See Calendar. [ 1913 Webster ]