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English Words Starting With A

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Noun Verb Adjective Adverb Plural noun Combining form Verb (transitive)Verb (intransitive)Verb (ambitransitive)

alkali
adjectivenounC1
/ˈæl.kəl.aɪ/A water-soluble base that neutralizes acids, typically having a bitter taste and giving a soapy, slippery feel in solution.
alkali blue
nounLow / Technical
/ˈæl.kəl.aɪ bluː/A synthetic triphenylmethane dye belonging to the aniline class, originally produced by the action of alkali on precursors like rosaniline.
alkali flat
nounC2 (very low frequency, highly technical/geographic)
/ˈæl.kəl.aɪ ˌflæt/A dry, flat expanse of land with a high concentration of soluble salts, often the dried bed of a lake.
alkali grass
nounC2
/ˈæl.kə.laɪ ˌɡrɑːs/A type of grass (typically of the genus Puccinellia) that grows in saline or alkaline soils.
alkali metal
nounC1
/ˈæl.kə.laɪ ˌmet.əl/Any of the six highly reactive metallic elements in Group 1 of the periodic table: lithium, sodium, potassium, rubidium, cesium, and francium.
alkali metaprotein
nounRare / Obsolete / Highly Technical
/ˌæl.kəl.aɪ ˈmet.ə.prəʊ.tiːn/A compound formed by the action of an alkali on a protein.
alkali rock
nounVery Low (C2)
/ˈæl.kə.laɪ rɒk/An igneous rock containing a high proportion of alkali metals (sodium and potassium) relative to silica.
alkali soil
nounC2
/ˈæl.kə.laɪ ˌsɔɪl/A soil containing enough soluble salts, especially sodium carbonate, to harm plant growth and impede agriculture.
alkalify
verbverb-intransitiveverb-transitiveC1/C2
/ˈæl.kə.lɪ.faɪ/To make or become alkaline; to convert into an alkali or a state with a pH greater than 7.
alkalimeter
nounRare
/ˌælkəˈlɪmɪtə/A scientific instrument for measuring the concentration of alkalis in a solution.
alkalimetry
nounC2
/ˌælkəˈlɪmɪtri/The measurement of the concentration of alkalines in a solution.
alkaline earth
nounC2
/ˌæl.kə.laɪn ˈɜːθ/Any of a group of six metallic elements in Group 2 of the periodic table, including beryllium, magnesium, calcium, strontium, barium, and radium.
alkaline phosphatase
nounRare
/ˌæl.kə.laɪn ˈfɒs.fə.teɪz/A hydrolase enzyme that removes phosphate groups from molecules by cleaving phosphoric acid monoesters into a phosphate ion and a molecule with a free hydroxyl group, functioning optimally at an alkaline pH.
alkaline soil
nounC1
/ˈæl.kəl.aɪn sɔɪl/Soil with a high pH level (above 7.0), indicating low acidity and containing significant amounts of alkaline salts like calcium carbonate.
alkaline-earth metal
nounC2
/ˌæl.kə.laɪn ˈɜːθ ˌmet.əl/Any of the metallic elements found in group 2 of the periodic table, characterised by forming alkaline solutions (hydroxides) when reacting with water.
alkalinity
nounLow
/ˌælkəˈlɪnəti/The quality of being alkaline; the quantitative capacity of a solution to neutralize an acid.
alkalize
verbverb-ambitransitiveC1
/ˈæl.kə.laɪz/To make a substance more alkaline (less acidic) by adding an alkali.
alkaloid
adjectivenounC1/C2
/ˈælkəlɔɪd/A naturally occurring organic compound, mostly from plants, containing nitrogen and having basic (alkaline) properties; often pharmacologically active.
alkalosis
nounLow
/ˌalkəˈləʊsɪs/A condition in which the body's fluids and tissues become excessively alkaline.
alkane
nounC2
/ˈælkeɪn/A saturated hydrocarbon with single bonds only, having the general formula CₙH₂ₙ₊₂.

Showing 3161–3180 of 8734 words.