alkalifyv.
/alˈkalᵻfʌɪ/, /ˈalkəlᵻfʌɪ/, U.S. /ˈælkələˌfaɪ/ Chemistry.
1. transitive. To make alkaline; (in early use) to convert into an alkali.
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the world > matter > chemistry > chemical substances > bases > [verb (transitive)] > to make alkaline
alkalize1666
alkalizate1735
alkalify1790
alkalinize1800
alkali1849
1790 [implied in: W. Nicholson tr. A.-F. de Fourcroy Elements Nat. Hist. & Chem. (new ed.) I. 150 We are led to consider the atmosphere as a vast reservoir of acidifying and alkalifying principles [Fr. des principes acidifiant & alkalifiant]. (at alkalifying adj.)].
1849 Chinese Repository 18 216 Grasscloth is bleached by subjecting it to a protracted boiling in water slightly alkalified with..potash.
1937 Tubercle 18 502 The strain Butter alkalified Sauton's medium under the same conditions of culture.
1952 G. F. Hervey & J. Hems Freshwater Trop. Aquarium Fishes iii. 20 Some aquarists recommend sodium biphosphate for alkalifying acid water.
2007 Jrnl. Pharmaceut. & Biomed. Anal. 44 369 In some cases it is necessary to acidify or alkalify the biological fluids.
2. intransitive. To become alkaline, or an alkali. rare.
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1884 N.E.D. Alkalify, to become an alkali or alkaline.
1989 Jrnl. Fermentation & Bioengineering 68 271/2 The effluent rapidly alkalified with a concomitant reduction of volatile acid levels in PS reactor no. 1.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, September 2009; most recently modified version published online December 2021).
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