Alembic

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Alembic \A*lem"bic\ ([.a]*l[e^]m"b[i^]k), n. [F. alambic (cf.
     Sp. alambique), Ar. al-anb[imac]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]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  alembic
       n : an obsolete kind of container used for distillation; two
           retorts connected by a tube