potassium hydroxide

noun

Chemistry.

1. a white, deliquescent, water-soluble solid, KOH, usually in the form of lumps, sticks, or pellets, that upon solution in water generates heat: used chiefly in the manufacture of soap, as a laboratory reagent, and as a caustic.

potassium hydroxide

noun

1. Also called: caustic potash. a white deliquescent alkaline solid used in the manufacture of soap, liquid shampoos, and detergents. Formula: KOH See also lye

potassium hydroxide

1. A white, corrosive, solid compound used in bleaches and to make soaps and detergents. It is deliquescent, soluble in water and very soluble in alcohol. In solution, it forms lye. Chemical formula: KOH.

Word History and Origins

Origin of potassium hydroxide¹

First recorded in 1880–85