Alkalize

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. To make a substance alkaline by adding a base or reducing its acidity
2. To raise the pH of a material so it becomes less acidic and more basic
3. To treat a solution or compound so that it exhibits alkaline properties

Etymology: Alkalize is a plain, transparent formation: the noun "alkali" with the verb-forming suffix "-ize" attached. The noun itself has a longer and more surprising route. It comes from Arabic "al-qily", meaning the ashes of saltwort, a plant whose ash was a rich source of soda. European chemists borrowed the term through Medieval Latin "alcali" and French "alcali", and English adopted it as "alkali" for any substance that neutralizes acids. The suffix has its own pedigree. It descends from Ancient Greek "-izein", which Late Latin reshaped as "-izare" and which passed into English through Middle French "-iser" and Middle English "-isen". Attaching it to a chemical noun gives a verb meaning to make something alkaline, which is the opposite of acidifying, the process of making a substance more acidic.

Synonyms: neutralize, balance, buffer, adjust pH, sustain

Antonyms: acidify, dissolve, corrode, decompose, erode