hard water
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Related to hard water: water softener
hard wa·ter
water containing ions, such as Mg2+ and Ca2+, that form insoluble salts with fatty acids so that ordinary soap will not lather in it.
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Segen's Medical Dictionary. © 2012 Farlex, Inc. All rights reserved.
hard water
Water with a high content of calcium and magnesium salts–eg, carbonates and sulfates, which may interfere with certain lab tests. See Mineral water, Spring water; Cf Soft water.McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine. © 2002 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.
hard wa·ter
(hahrd wawtĕr)That containing ions, such as Mg2+ and Ca2+, which form insoluble salts with fatty acids so that ordinary soap will not lather in it.
Medical Dictionary for the Health Professions and Nursing © Farlex 2012