Alembic

Alembic
Alembic A*lem"bic ([.a]*l[e^]m"b[i^]k), n. [F. alambic (cf. Sp. alambique), Ar. al-anb[=i]q, fr. Gr. 'a`mbix cup, cap of a still. The cap or head was the alembic proper. Cf. {Limbec}.] An apparatus formerly used in distillation, usually made of glass or metal. It has mostly given place to the retort and worm still.

Note: Used also metaphorically.

The alembic of a great poet's imagination. --Brimley. [1913 Webster]


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English. 2000.

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  • Alembic — es una corporación norteamericana especializada en la construcción artesanal de bajos eléctricos, guitarras eléctricas y equipos de grabación y de sonido directo, responsable, entre otras muchas innovaciones, del primer bajo de circuito activo de …   Wikipedia Español

  • Alembic — (Alambik, arab. franz.), der Helm der alten Destillationsapparate …   Meyers Großes Konversations-Lexikon

  • alembic — ALEMBIC. Voyez Alambic …   Dictionnaire de l'Académie Française 1798

  • alembic — (n.) late 14c., from M.Fr. alambic (13c.), via Old Spanish, from Arabic al anbiq distilling flask, from Gk. ambix cup, of unknown, possibly Semitic, origin. Often spelled limbeck 15c. 17c …   Etymology dictionary

  • alembic — Alembic, Chapelle de voirre à distiller eaües, Clibanus vitreus …   Thresor de la langue françoyse

  • alembic — [ə lem′bik] n. [ME & OFr alambic < ML alambicus < Ar al anbīq < al, the + anbīq, distilling flask < Gr ambix, a cup] 1. an apparatus of glass or metal, like a retort, formerly used for distilling 2. anything that refines or purifies …   English World dictionary

  • Alembic — An alembic (from Arabic Al inbiq الأنبيق) is an alchemical still consisting of two retorts connected by a tube. Technically, the alembic is only the upper part (the capital or still head ), while the lower part is the cucurbit, but the word was… …   Wikipedia

  • Alembic — A type of still, an apparatus used in the process of distillation. Alembics were employed in chemistry and biomedical laboratories as well as in distilling cognac. By extension, alembic is anything that refines or transmutes as if by distillation …   Medical dictionary

  • Alembic —  Ne doit pas être confondu avec Alambic. Guitare Basse customisée Alembic Dragon s Breath Alembic Inc., est un fabricant américain de guitares électrique …   Wikipédia en Français

  • alembic — noun Etymology: Middle English, from Middle French & Medieval Latin; Middle French alambic & Medieval Latin alembicum, from Arabic al anbīq, from al the + anbīq still, from Late Greek ambik , ambix alembic, from Greek, cap of a still Date: 14th… …   New Collegiate Dictionary

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