Wiktionary
alkaline earth
alt. (context chemistry English) Any oxide of the elements of group II of the periodic table; they are not as basic as the alkalis, and not so soluble in water. n. (context chemistry English) Any oxide of the elements of group II of the periodic table; they are not as basic as the alkalis, and not so soluble in water.
WordNet
alkaline earth
n. any of the bivalent metals of group II of the periodic table (calcium or strontium or barium or magnesium or beryllium) [syn: alkaline-earth metal]