a. [f. as prec. + -OUS; cf. Fr. albumineux.]
1. Of the nature or character of albumen or albumin; having the same composition as the white of an egg.
1791. Nicholson, Chem., 514. The albuminous part, or serum, coagulates.
1879. C. Cameron, in Cassells Techn. Educ., IV. 368/1. In the case of young animals, a diet rich in albuminous substances is necessary.
2. Bot. Containing a store of albumen in the seed: see ALBUMEN 3.
1830. Lindley, Nat. Syst. Bot., 57. Albuminous solitary pendulous seeds.
1842. Gray, Struct. Bot., ii. (1880), 14. Seeds are distinguished into albuminous and exalbuminous, those supplied with and those destitute of albumen.
3. fig. Insipid.
1865. Carlyle, Fredk. Gt., III. IX. i. 65. Nothing but a kind of albuminous simplicity noticeable in them; no wit, originality, brightness in the way of uttered intellect.