| alchemy |
an ancient exploration and practice of chemistry which flourished particularly during medieval times. Practitioners used chemical processes in the hope of, for example, producing gold from base metals, finding the key to eternal life, and uncovering a single cure for all disease. [2 definitions] |
| alcohol |
one of a class of colorless, flammable, and volatile liquids that in pure form is contained in beverages such as beer, wine, and whiskey, and causes intoxication when drunk to excess; ethanol. [3 definitions] |
| alcohol-free |
of a beverage, containing no alcohol. |
| alcoholic |
containing alcohol. [4 definitions] |
| alcoholism |
a pathological condition resulting from habitual overuse of alcoholic beverages, characterized by dependence on alcohol, difficulty in functioning properly, and severe withdrawal symptoms when alcohol use is stopped. |
| alcoholize |
to saturate, combine, or treat with alcohol. [2 definitions] |
| alcove |
a separate or recessed part of a room that is partly enclosed. [2 definitions] |
| Aldebaran |
an orange binary star in the constellation Taurus, having a combined magnitude of 0.9. |
| aldehyde |
in chemistry, any of a group of organic compounds, such as formaldehyde, the molecule of which contains a terminal carbon atom bound separately to a hydrogen and an oxygen atom. |
| alder |
any of several deciduous trees and shrubs of the birch family that grow in cool, damp regions. |
| alderman |
a member of the lawmaking body of some cities and towns; councilman or councilwoman. |
| ale |
a drink, made by fermenting malt, that is heavier and more bitter than beer. |
| aleatory |
pertaining to or depending on luck, chance, or contingency. |
| alee |
at or toward that side of a ship which is farthest from the source of wind. |
| a leg to stand on |
a valid or convincing basis for a point of view. |
| alehouse |
an establishment where ale is served; tavern. |
| alembic |
a device, used in the past for distillation, whose main vessel has a beaked top. [2 definitions] |
| aleph |
the name of the first letter of the Hebrew alphabet. |
| alert |
keenly attentive or responsive; quick to perceive. [3 definitions] |
| Aleut |
a member of a native people of the Aleutian Islands, or a descendant thereof; Aleutian. [2 definitions] |
| Aleutian |
of or pertaining to the Aleutian Islands or their people, culture, or the like. [2 definitions] |