alkali blue

noun

1

: any of various alkali-soluble triphenylmethane dyes that are essentially sodium salts of monosulfonic acids of phenylated pararosaniline and are used chiefly in making pigments

2

: any of the fairly permanent pigments made from an alkali blue dye and used chiefly in printing inks

Word History

First Known Use

1864, in the meaning defined at sense 1

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