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Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
litmus
noun
COLLOCATIONS FROM OTHER ENTRIES
litmus paper
litmus test
▪ The mayoral election is regarded as the litmus test for the integrity of the electoral process.
COLLOCATIONS FROM CORPUS
■ NOUN
paper
▪ In a drawer the litmus paper mused upon which way to turn.
▪ The use of litmus paper furnishes another example of such a transformation.
▪ The litmus paper turned red when immersed in the liquid.
test
▪ The case of travellers is something of a litmus test.
▪ Comparison is the only true litmus test of objectivity.
▪ What clearer laboratory or litmus test could there be to show that our methods are genuinely additional?
▪ He instituted a stringent litmus test on doctrinal matters.
▪ For example, in his chemistry exam John wrote for the first three answers blank, ether and litmus test.
EXAMPLES FROM CORPUS
▪ Comparison is the only true litmus test of objectivity.
▪ Forbes, meanwhile, has made winning Arizona his litmus test for capturing the nomination.
▪ He instituted a stringent litmus test on doctrinal matters.
▪ In a drawer the litmus paper mused upon which way to turn.
▪ The case of travellers is something of a litmus test.
▪ The use of litmus paper furnishes another example of such a transformation.
▪ What clearer laboratory or litmus test could there be to show that our methods are genuinely additional?
The Collaborative International Dictionary
Litmus

Litmus \Lit"mus\, n. [D. lakmoes; lak lacker + moes a thick preparation of fruit, pap, prob. akin to E. meat: cf. G. lackmus. See Lac a resinous substance.] (Chem.) A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens ( Roccella tinctoria, Lecanora tartarea, etc.), as a blue amorphous mass which consists of a compound of the alkaline carbonates with certain coloring matters related to orcin and orcein.

Note: Litmus is used as a dye, and being turned red by acids and restored to its blue color by alkalies, is a common indicator or test for acidity and alkalinity.

Litmus paper (Chem.), unsized paper saturated with blue or red litmus, -- used in testing for acids or alkalies.

Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
litmus

"blue dye-stuff obtained from certain lichens," early 14c., from Middle Dutch lijkmoes (Dutch lakmoes), from lac (see lac) + moes "pulp." Another theory is that it represents Old Norse litmose, literally "lichen for dying," from Old Norse lita "to dye, to stain," from litr "color, dye" (see lit (n.1)) + mos "moss." Yet another idea connects the first element to Middle Dutch leken "to drip, leak" (see leak (v.)).\n

\nWhichever was the original word, it probably was influenced by the others. The dye is obtained from certain lichens. It is naturally blue but turns red in acid and is restored to blue by alkalis. Figurative use of litmus test is first attested 1957, from scientific use of litmus-treated paper as a chemical indicator. Litmus paper with this meaning is from 1803.

Wiktionary
litmus

n. 1 (context uncountable English) A dyestuff extracted from certain lichens, that changes color when exposed to pH levels greater than or less than certain critical levels. 2 A simple test of acidity in a liquid using litmus, usually in the form of litmus paper. 3 A simple test of any attribute; a litmus test.

WordNet
litmus

n. a coloring material (obtained from lichens) that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions; used as a very rough acid-base indicator [syn: litmus test]

Wikipedia
Litmus (disambiguation)

Litmus is a water-soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from lichens.

Litmus may also refer to:

  • Litmus (Mozilla), a test case management tool maintained by Mozilla
  • "Litmus" (Battlestar Galactica), an episode of Battlestar Galactica
  • Litmus (band), a UK space rock band
  • Litmus test (politics)
Litmus

Litmus is a water soluble mixture of different dyes extracted from lichens. It is often absorbed onto filter paper to produce one of the oldest forms of pH indicator, used to test materials for acidity.

Litmus (Battlestar Galactica)

"Litmus" is the sixth episode of the reimagined Battlestar Galactica television series. In the episode, an investigation into a Cylon infiltration comes to focus on the relationship between Chief Galen Tyrol and the Galactica copy of Boomer, who is a Cylon sleeper agent in order to weed out other sleeper agents.

Litmus (Mozilla)

Litmus is a web-based, open source, test case management/ QA tool, previously maintained by the Mozilla Corporation/ Mozilla Foundation.

Mozilla used the tool to test its own products. As of 2012, it has been replaced with MozTrap.

Litmus (band)

Litmus are a London-based space rock band formed in 2000 by Martin (bass guitar/vocals), Simon (guitar/vocals) and Ben (drums), joined the following year by Andy Thompson (keyboards, 2001–2007) and Anton (synths). Matt Thompson joined on synth (2002–2004), while Marek replaced Ben in 2003. Oli Mayne (keyboards) joined in 2008, then left in 2010, along with Anton. As of November 2012 the line-up is Martin Litmus (bass/vocals), Simon Fiddler (guitar/vocals), Marek Bublik (drums) and James Hodkinson (keyboards/effects). They are influenced by mid-1970s Hawkwind and Black Sabbath, amongst others.

They have played at festivals across the UK and Europe including Yellowstock (Belgium), The Psychotropic Caravan Festival (Finland), Two Days of Love and Peace (Germany), Burg Herzberg (Germany), Stoned from the Underground (Germany), South of Mainstream (Germany), Swamp Room Happening (Germany), Roadburn (Netherlands), Hard Rock Hell (UK), Hawkfest (UK), Sonic Rock (UK), Sonic Rock Solstice (UK), Celtic Warriors (UK), Cambridge Rock Festival (UK), Eastern Haze (UK).

In 2009, at the Sonic Rock Solstice festival, Marek played drums for the Hawklords who had undergone an impromptu reforming during the festival from various bands playing there

They have also supported or toured with Arthur Brown, Astra, Witchcraft, Julian Cope, Hawkwind, Space Ritual and The Atomic Bitchwax.

In mid-2010 they returned to Dave Anderson's Foel Studio in North Wales to record their fourth album, Slaughterbahn. This was mixed at Foel in January 2011 and released in July 2012.

Usage examples of "litmus".

Time after time he tested it with hydrometers and narrow strips of litmus paper.

Of terrible births when the scouter panel winked green and he was catapulted down, down, a living litmus hurled and grabbed, unpodded finally into an alien air, an earth that was not Earth.

The acid seems to be secreted quickly, for in one case the secretion from the discal glands, on which a little powdered casein had been strewed, coloured litmus paper, before any of the exterior tentacles were inflected.

I chose a young leaf, which was not secreting freely, and had never caught an insect, yet the secretion on all the glands coloured litmus paper of a bright red.

A solution is prepared by digesting 15 or 20 grams of the commercial litmus in 100 c.

Therefore the acid which fresh leaves contain, as shown by their discolouring litmus paper when crushed, must be of a different nature from that present in the secretion.

The Fifth Councilmanic District, which has a 25% Negro population, became a litmus test: how would voters respond when an entire campaign revolved around whether or not to relocate impoverished Latin Americans in an attempt to create space for a Los Angeles Dodgers ballpark?

That would appeal to their core constituency's litmus test by actually strengthening the power of the Monarch.

As litmus paper, colored by the Earth lichen, rocella tinctoria shows the presence of acid or alkali by its color change, so Ganymedian cree reacted to the ammoniated atmosphere of the planet.

The initiate encourages the mystic and uses him as you might use a telephone, to establish long-distance contact, or as a chemist might use litmus paper, to detect the action of a particular substance.

Curtains, cushion covers and lampshades are all good litmus indicators for a slight diversion in the timestream – the way canaries are used down the mines or goldfishes to predict earthquakes.

Red Litmus Paper is similarly prepared with an infusion faintly reddened by the addition of a small percentage of sulphuric or hydrochloric acid.

To do this most accurately you would need a pH meter or simple litmus paper, which should be available before the end of 1632.

More than a litmus test, the Fifth District race was crucial to the passage of the Chavez Ravine bond issue: a Council straw vote showed that body currently standing 5 to 4 in favor, with all other Republican and Democratic candidates vying for Council seats also voicing their approval of the measure.

Volumes of given gases and total internal reflection and osmosis and litmus paper and the lime-water equation.