Adjacent Words

sulphur definitions

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WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: an abundant tasteless odorless multivalent nonmetallic element; best known in yellow crystals; occurs in many sulphide and sulphate minerals and even in native form (especially in volcanic regions) [syn: sulfur, S, sulphur, atomic number 16] v
1: treat with sulphur in order to preserve; "These dried fruits are sulphured" [syn: sulphur, sulfur]

Merriam Webster's

I. noun see sulfur II. noun see sulphur butterfly

Dictionary of the Elements

sulphur
Symbol: S
Atomic number: 16
Atomic weight: 32.064
Yellow, nonmetallic element belonging to group 16 of the periodic table. It is an essential element in living organisms, needed in the amino acids cysteine and methionine, and hence in many proteins. Absorbed by plants from the soil as sulphate ion.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. & v. (US sulfur) --n. 1 a a pale-yellow non-metallic element having crystalline and amorphous forms, burning with a blue flame and a suffocating smell, and used in making gunpowder, matches, and sulphuric acid, in the vulcanizing of rubber, and in the treatment of skin diseases. Usage: Symb.: S. b (attrib.) like or containing sulphur. 2 the material of which hell-fire and lightning were believed to consist. 3 any yellow butterfly of the family Pieridae. 4 a pale greenish yellow colour. --v.tr. 1 treat with sulphur. 2 fumigate with sulphur. Phrases and idioms: sulphur candle a candle burnt to produce sulphur dioxide for fumigating. sulphur dioxide a colourless pungent gas formed by burning sulphur in air and used as a food preservative. sulphur spring a spring impregnated with sulphur or its compounds. Derivatives: sulphury adj. Etymology: ME f. AF sulf(e)re, OF soufre f. L sulfur, sulp(h)ur

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sulphur Sul"phur, n. [L., better sulfur: cf. F. soufre.] 1. (Chem.) A nonmetallic element occurring naturally in large quantities, either combined as in the sulphides (as pyrites) and sulphates (as gypsum), or native in volcanic regions, in vast beds mixed with gypsum and various earthy materials, from which it is melted out. Symbol S. Atomic weight 32. The specific gravity of ordinary octohedral sulphur is 2.05; of prismatic sulphur, 1.96. Note: It is purified by distillation, and is obtained as a lemon-yellow powder (by sublimation), called flour, or flowers, of sulphur, or in cast sticks called roll sulphur, or brimstone. It burns with a blue flame and a peculiar suffocating odor. It is an ingredient of gunpowder, is used on friction matches, and in medicine (as a laxative and insecticide), but its chief use is in the manufacture of sulphuric acid. Sulphur can be obtained in two crystalline modifications, in orthorhombic octahedra, or in monoclinic prisms, the former of which is the more stable at ordinary temperatures. Sulphur is the type, in its chemical relations, of a group of elements, including selenium and tellurium, called collectively the sulphur group, or family. In many respects sulphur resembles oxygen. 2. (Zo["o]l.) Any one of numerous species of yellow or orange butterflies of the subfamily Pierin[ae]; as, the clouded sulphur (Eurymus, or Colias, philodice), which is the common yellow butterfly of the Eastern United States. Amorphous sulphur (Chem.), an elastic variety of sulphur of a resinous appearance, obtained by pouring melted sulphur into water. On standing, it passes back into a brittle crystalline modification. Liver of sulphur. (Old Chem.) See Hepar. Sulphur acid. (Chem.) See Sulphacid. Sulphur alcohol. (Chem.) See Mercaptan. Sulphur auratum [L.] (Old Chem.), a golden yellow powder, consisting of antimonic sulphide, Sb2S5, -- formerly a famous nostrum. Sulphur base (Chem.), an alkaline sulphide capable of acting as a base in the formation of sulphur salts according to the old dual theory of salts. [Archaic] Sulphur dioxide (Chem.), a colorless gas, SO2, of a pungent, suffocating odor, produced by the burning of sulphur. It is employed chiefly in the production of sulphuric acid, and as a reagent in bleaching; -- called also sulphurous anhydride, and formerly sulphurous acid. Sulphur ether (Chem.), a sulphide of hydrocarbon radicals, formed like the ordinary ethers, which are oxides, but with sulphur in the place of oxygen. Sulphur salt (Chem.), a salt of a sulphacid; a sulphosalt. Sulphur showers, showers of yellow pollen, resembling sulphur in appearance, often carried from pine forests by the wind to a great distance. Sulphur trioxide (Chem.), a white crystalline solid, SO3, obtained by oxidation of sulphur dioxide. It dissolves in water with a hissing noise and the production of heat, forming sulphuric acid, and is employed as a dehydrating agent. Called also sulphuric anhydride, and formerly sulphuric acid. Sulphur whale. (Zo["o]l.) See Sulphur-bottom. Vegetable sulphur (Bot.), lycopodium powder. See under Lycopodium.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

Note: in AM, use 'sulfur' Sulphur is a yellow chemical which has a strong smell. The air reeks of sulphur.

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

sul'-fur.

See BRIMSTONE.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. 1. Brimstone, burn-stone. 2. [An abbreviated term of commerce.] Flowers of sulphur, sublimed brimstone.