sulfur
Use Sulfur in a sentence
fər noun
1.
Also, especially British, sulphur. Chemistry. a nonmetallic element that exists in several forms, the ordinary one being a yellow rhombic crystalline solid, and that burns with a blue flame and a suffocating odor: used especially in making gunpowder and matches, in medicine, in vulcanizing rubber, etc. Symbol: S; atomic weight: 32.064; atomic number: 16; specific gravity: 2.07 at 20° C.
2.
sulphur ( def 2 ).
Origin:
1300–50; Middle English sulphur < Latin sulpur, sulphur, sulfur brimstone, sulfur
1300–50; Middle English sulphur < Latin sulpur, sulphur, sulfur brimstone, sulfur
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2013.
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Link To sulfur
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00:10
Sulfur
is always a great word to know.
So is fluoride. Does it mean:
| a salt of hydrofluoric acid consisting of fluorine, as sodium fluoride, NaF, or a compound containing fluorine, as methyl fluoride, CH3F |
| a reaction in which two or more substances combine to form another compound |
sulphur or sulfur (ˈsʌlfə) ![[Click for IPA pronunciation guide]](http://static.sfdict.com/dictstatic/g/d/dictionary_questionbutton_default.gif) | |
| —n | |
| a. an allotropic nonmetallic element, occurring free in volcanic regions and in combined state in gypsum, pyrite, and galena. The stable yellow rhombic form converts on heating to monoclinic needles. It is used in the production of sulphuric acid, in the vulcanization of rubber, and in fungicides. Symbol: S; atomic no: 16; atomic wt: 32.066; valency: 2, 4, or 6; relative density: 2.07 (rhombic), 1.957 (monoclinic); melting pt: 115.22°C (rhombic), 119.0°C (monoclinic); boiling pt: 444.674°CRelated: thionic | |
| b. (as modifier): sulphur springs | |
| Related: thionic | |
| [C14 soufre, from Old French, from Latin sulfur] | |
| sulfur or sulfur | |
| —n | |
| Related: thionic | |
| [C14 soufre, from Old French, from Latin sulfur] | |
| sulphuric or sulfur | |
| —adj | |
| sulfuric or sulfur | |
| —adj | |
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History
sulfur
c.1300, from O.Fr. soufre (13c.), from L.L. sulfur, from L. sulphur, probably from a root meaning "to burn." Ousted native brimstone and cognate O.E. swefl.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary
sulfur sul·fur or sul·phur (sŭl'fər)
n.
Symbol S
A yellow nonmetallic element occurring widely in nature in several free and combined allotropic forms and used in the manufacture of pharmaceuticals and many sulfur compounds, especially sulfuric acid. Atomic number 16; atomic weight 32.066; melting point (rhombic) 112.8°C; (monoclinic) 119.0°C; boiling point 444.6°C; specific gravity (rhombic) 2.07; (monoclinic) 1.957; valence 2, 4, 6.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
| sulfur also sulphur (sŭl'fər) Pronunciation Key
Symbol S A pale-yellow, brittle nonmetallic element that occurs widely in nature, especially in volcanic deposits, minerals, natural gas, and petroleum. It is used to make gunpowder and fertilizer, to vulcanize rubber, and to produce sulfuric acid. Atomic number 16; atomic weight 32.066; melting point (rhombic) 112.8°C; (monoclinic) 119.0°C; boiling point 444.6°C; specific gravity (rhombic) 2.07; (monoclinic) 1.957; valence 2, 4, 6. See Periodic Table. |
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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Example sentences
Use horticultural oil either alone or mixed with lime sulfur or fixed copper.
Sulfur dioxide is a pollutant that helps produce acid rain.
Unlike sodium-sulfur batteries, vanadium-flow batteries don't need to be heated to high temperatures.
It too is composed mostly of iron, plus substantial amounts of sulfur and nickel.
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