Search Result for "litmus test":
Wordnet 3.0

NOUN (2)

1. a coloring material (obtained from lichens) that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions; used as a very rough acid-base indicator;
[syn: litmus, litmus test]

2. a test that relies on a single indicator;
- Example: "her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives"


The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48:

litmus test \litmus test\, 1. (Chem.) A test to determine acidity or alkalinity, using litmus as an inddicator. [PJC] 2. Hence: (Fig.) A test for a single factor, which has only two outcomes, positive or negative; specifically: (Politics) the question of whether a candidate for office is for or against a particular position on an issue; -- used, e.g. by voters concerned predominantly with a single issue, to decide whether to vote for or against a candidate; as, many voters take a candidate's position on abortion as their litmus test. [PJC]
WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006):

litmus test n 1: a coloring material (obtained from lichens) that turns red in acid solutions and blue in alkaline solutions; used as a very rough acid-base indicator [syn: litmus, litmus test] 2: a test that relies on a single indicator; "her litmus test for good breeding is whether you split infinitives"