(n.) One of a class of caustic bases (which neutralize acids) such as soda, potash, ammonia, and lime, 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.
Thesaurus Entries
acid, acidity, agent, alkalinity, alloisomer, anion, antacid, atom, base, biochemical, cation, chemical, chemical element, chromoisomer, compound, copolymer, dimer, element, heavy chemicals, high polymer, homopolymer, hydracid, inorganic chemical, ion, isomer, macromolecule, metamer, molecule, monomer, neutralizer, nonacid, organic chemical, oxyacid, polymer, pseudoisomer, radical, reagent, sulfacid, trimer
