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A nitrogenous substance resembling gelatin, obtained from certain algæ.

That which nourishes; food; nutriment; anything which feeds or adds to a substance in natural growth. Hence: The necessaries of life generally: sustenance; means of support. Aliments of theiBacon.

o aliment or food, or to the function of nutrition; nutritious; alimental; as, alimentary substances. Alimentary canal, the entire channel, extending from the mouth to the anus, by which aliments are conveyed through the body, and the useless parts ejected.

A tendency to become alkaline; or the state of a substance in which alkaline properties begin to be developed, or to predominant. Ure.

to an alkali or to alkalies; having the properties of an alkali. 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 t…

An organic base, especially one of a class of substances occurring ready formed in the tissues of plants and the bodies of animals.

A crystalline, transparent, colorless substance found in the allantoic liquid of the fetal calf; -- formerly called allantoic acid and amniotic acid.

Any one of two or more distinct crystalline forms of the same substance; or the substance having such forms; -- as, carbonate of lime occurs in the allomorphs calcite and aragonite.

To change in physical properties but not in substance. [R.]

A substance produced by acting upon uric with warm and very dilute nitric acid.

To reduce the purity of by mixing with a less valuable substance; as, to alloy gold with silver or copper, or silver with copper.

Rays of relatively low penetrating power emitted by radium and other radioactive substances, and shown to consist of positively charged particles (perhaps particles of helium) having enormous velocities but small masses. They are slightly deflected by a strong magnetic or electric field.

A spongy, combustible substance, prepared from fungus (Boletus and Polyporus) which grows on old trees; German tinder; punk. It has been employed as a styptic by surgeons, but its common use is as tinder, for which purpose it is prepared by soaking it in a strong solution of niter. Ure.

A characteristic crystalline substance, obtained from oil of bitter almonds.

A substance of the consistence of wax, found floating in the Indian Ocean and other parts of the tropics, and also as a morbid secretion in the intestines of the sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus), which is believed to be in all cases its true origin. In color it is white, ash-gray, yellow, or black, and often varieg…

A fragrant substance which is the chief constituent of ambergris.

One of a class of strongly basic substances derived from ammonia by replacement of one or more hydrogen atoms by a basic atom or radical.

Without crystallization in the ultimate texture of a solid substance; uncrystallized.

To rise, reach, or extend in effect, substance, or influence; to be equivalent; to come practically (to); as, the testimony amounts to very little.

A form of articulation in which the bones are connected by intervening substance admitting slight motion; symphysis.