The Collaborative International Dictionary
Alcoholate \Al"co*hol*ate\, n. [Cf. F. alcolaie.] (Chem.)
A crystallizable compound of a salt with alcohol, in which
the latter plays a part analogous to that of water of
crystallization.
--Graham.
Wiktionary
n. 1 (context obsolete chemistry English) A crystalline salt containing alcohol in place of water of crystallization. 2 An alcoholic extract of plant material; a tincture. 3 (context organic chemistry English) An alkoxide.
Wikipedia
Originally, an alcoholate was the crystalline form of a salt in which alcohol took the place of water of crystallization.
The second meaning of the word is that of a tincture, or alcoholic extract of plant material.
The third, and more usual meaning of the word is as a synonym for alkoxide—a compound formed by the substitution of the hydrogen atom of the hydroxy group of an alcohol by a metal atom.
Category:Salts