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litmus

[ lit-muhs ]

noun

  1. a blue coloring matter obtained from certain lichens, especially Roccella tinctoria. In alkaline solution litmus turns blue, in acid solution, red: widely used as a chemical indicator.


litmus

/ ˈlɪtməs /

noun

  1. a soluble powder obtained from certain lichens. It turns red under acid conditions and blue under basic conditions and is used as an indicator
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


litmus

/ lĭtməs /

  1. A colored powder, obtained from certain lichens, that changes to red in an acid solution and to blue in an alkaline solution. Litmus is a mixture of various closely related heterocyclic organic compounds.
  2. ◆ Litmus is typically added to paper to make litmus paper , which can be used to determine whether a solution is basic or acidic by dipping a strip of the paper into the solution and seeing how the paper changes color.


litmus

  1. In chemistry , a kind of paper used to tell whether a solution is an acid or a base . Acids turn blue litmus paper red; bases turn red litmus paper blue. Other testing paper or sophisticated instruments can be used to measure the pH of a solution more precisely.


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Notes

The term litmus is often used to refer to a general and simple test: “Your vote on this issue is a litmus test of your political philosophy .”
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Word History and Origins

Origin of litmus1

1495–1505; earlier lytmos < Old Norse litmosi dye-moss, equivalent to lit- color, dye + mosi moss
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Word History and Origins

Origin of litmus1

C16: perhaps from Scandinavian; compare Old Norse litmosi, from litr dye + mosi moss
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Example Sentences

Aaronson figured it would be much easier to solve the system minus one of the 11 rules—leaving a “Collatz-like” system, a litmus test for the larger goal.

Such litmus tests have not applied in Democratic races this year.

Cohorts identify these user traits without compromising the user’s privacy, passing a critical litmus test for any viable targeting or measurement solution as programmatic marketing moves toward the post-cookie era.

From Digiday

The problem with this particular litmus test is, it’s not about policy and it’s anti-democratic.

Political parties have had plenty of litmus tests over the decades — positions you almost have to have to be a member in good standing.

Again, that pre-communion questionnaire sin litmus test might prove handy.

Applying an ideological litmus test for commencement speakers is not a good idea.

But when did they become the litmus test of competence in office?

So they are a litmus paper for wider fertility—not a significant driver of Israeli birthrates.

Opposition to the Affordable Care Act in toto might linger as a litmus test for conservatives.

The solution of lead must contain acid; and if by keeping it does not change litmus-paper, acid must be added till it does.

The blue litmus paper became red showing the presence of an acid.

When the small residue was completely dry, it was a yellow solid soluble in dilute alcohol and acid to litmus.

Vapors and liquid were given off, both of which turned red litmus blue and had a strong odor like tobacco smoke.

This is an indicator for bases and acids, like litmus, but it is less sensitive to hydroxide-ion than is litmus.

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