Definition of "mordant"

mordant

/mɔː(ɹ)dənt/

adjective
comparative more mordant, superlative most mordant
1. Having or showing a sharp or critical quality
2. Serving to fix a dye to a fibre.
noun
countable and uncountable, plural mordants
1. Any substance used to facilitate the fixing of a dye to a fibre; usually a metallic compound which reacts with the dye using chelation.
  Quotations
  In dyeing two mediums are required, the colouring matter and the mordant which fixes the dye in the wool.
  1964, L.F. Salzman, English Industries of the Middle Ages, page 208
2. Any corrosive substance used in etching.
3. A glutinous size used as a ground for gilding, to make the gold leaf adhere.
verb
third-person singular simple present mordants, present participle mordanting, simple past and past participle mordanted
1. (transitive) To subject to the action of, or imbue with, a mordant.