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Definition of "alembic" []

  • An apparatus consisting of two vessels connected by a tube, formerly used for distilling liquids. (noun)
  • A device that purifies or alters by a process comparable to distillation. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "alembic" in a sentence
  • "They first invented and named the alembic for the purposes of distillation, analyzed the substances of the three kingdoms of nature, tried the distinction and affinities of alcalis and acids, and converted the poisonous minerals into soft and salutary medicines."
  • "The word "alembic," the ancient chemical apparatus used to heat and distill, had jolted the people nearest to Steven, all the men and women on the platforms; she had felt their sudden intake of breath and the straightening of their spines, could still see it in their faces and their posture."
  • "Gilbert White's phrase, forms the best "alembic" for distilling water from fog at all times of the year."