potash

Meaning

Noun

1. (countable, uncountable) The water-soluble part of wood ash, used for making soap and glass and as a fertilizer (chemically speaking, an impure form of potassium carbonate (K₂CO₃) mixed with other potassium salts).
2. (archaic, countable, uncountable) Potassium. Chiefly used in the names of compounds of the form "... of potash".
3. (countable, uncountable) A class of potassium minerals, of similar applicability to potassium carbonate, such as being a fertilizer. (ie. potassium chloride, potassium hydroxide)

Verb

To treat with potassium.

Synonyms

potassium carbonate

potassium hydroxide

caustic potash

kali

lye

potassic

potassium

soda

soda ash

pearl ash

alkaline salt

potassa

sal tartari

kalium carbonate

alkaline

salt of tartar

basic salt

black

Translations

potasse

potassa

Pottasche

potasa

potas

potassa

potas

potássio

kaliumcarbonaat

potasch

carbonato di potassio

potassa caustica

ποτάσσα

Kalilauge

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ˈpɒt.æʃ/

Etymology

From pot + ash, because the substance was originally obtained by leaching ash in water and then boiling down the resulting solution in a pot. Compare Dutch potas, German Pottasche.