Adjacent Words

Vitriol definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

VIT'RIOL, n. [L. vitrum, glass; perhaps from its color.]
1. In mineralogy, native vitriol is a substance of a grayish or yellowish white color, apple green, or sky blue, and when decomposed, covered with an ochery crust. It occurs in masses, disseminated, stalactical, or capillary. Externally, it is dull and rough; internally, it is more or less shining, with a vitreous silky structure. It is called by manufacturers copperas, a name derived from the flower or efflorescence of copper. This substance is seem only in cabinets.
2. In chimistry, a combination of the acid of sulphur with any metallic substance; but chiefly green vitriol, or sulphate of iron; blue vitriol, or sulphate of copper, and white vitriol, or sulphate of zink.
All metals may be converted into vitriols, by dissolving them with acid spirits, and suffering them to stand and crystallize.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: (H2SO4) a highly corrosive acid made from sulfur dioxide; widely used in the chemical industry [syn: vitriol, oil of vitriol, sulfuric acid, sulphuric acid]
2: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure or bitter deep-seated ill will [syn: vituperation, invective, vitriol] v
1: expose to the effects of vitriol or injure with vitriol
2: subject to bitter verbal abuse

Merriam Webster's

noun Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French vitriole, from Medieval Latin vitriolum, alteration of Late Latin vitreolum, neuter of vitreolus glassy, from Latin vitreus vitreous Date: 14th century 1. a. a sulfate of any of various metals (as copper, iron, or zinc); especially a glassy hydrate of such a sulfate b. oil of vitriol 2. something felt to resemble vitriol especially in caustic quality; especially virulence of feeling or of speech • vitriolic adjective

Oxford Reference Dictionary

n. 1 sulphuric acid or a sulphate, orig. one of glassy appearance. 2 caustic or hostile speech, criticism, or feeling. Phrases and idioms: copper vitriol copper sulphate. oil of vitriol concentrated sulphuric acid. Etymology: ME f. OF vitriol or med.L vitriolum f. L vitrum glass

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Vitriol Vit"ri*ol, n. [F. vitriol; cf. Pr. vitriol, vetriol, Sp. & Pg. vitriolo, It. vitriuolo; fr. L. vitreolus of glass, vitreus vitreous. See Vitreous.] (Chem.) (a) A sulphate of any one of certain metals, as copper, iron, zinc, cobalt. So called on account of the glassy appearance or luster. (b) Sulphuric acid; -- called also oil of vitriol. So called because first made by the distillation of green vitriol. See Sulphuric acid, under Sulphuric. [Colloq.] Blue vitriol. See under Blue. Green vitriol, ferrous sulphate; copperas. See under Green. Oil of vitriol, sulphuric or vitriolic acid; -- popularly so called because it has the consistency of oil. Red vitriol, a native sulphate of cobalt. Vitriol of Mars, ferric sulphate, a white crystalline substance which dissolves in water, forming a red solution. White vitriol, zinc sulphate, a white crystalline substance used in medicine and in dyeing. It is usually obtained by dissolving zinc in sulphuric acid, or by roasting and oxidizing certain zinc ores. Formerly called also vitriol of zinc.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Vitriol Vit"ri*ol, v. t. [imp. & p. p. -oledor -olled; p. pr. & vb. n. -oling or -olling.] [From Vitriol, n.] 1. (Metal.) To dip in dilute sulphuric acid; to pickle. 2. To vitriolize. [Colloq.]

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Sulphuric Sul*phu"ric, a. [Cf. F. sulfurique.] 1. Of or pertaining to sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell. 2. (Chem.) Derived from, or containing, sulphur; specifically, designating those compounds in which the element has a higher valence as contrasted with the sulphurous compounds; as, sulphuric acid. Sulphuric acid. (a) Sulphur trioxide (see under Sulphur); -- formerly so called on the dualistic theory of salts. [Obs.] (b) A heavy, corrosive, oily liquid, H2SO4, colorless when pure, but usually yellowish or brownish, produced by the combined action of sulphur dioxide, oxygen (from the air), steam, and nitric fumes. It attacks and dissolves many metals and other intractable substances, sets free most acids from their salts, and is used in the manufacture of hydrochloric and nitric acids, of soda, of bleaching powders, etc. It is also powerful dehydrating agent, having a strong affinity for water, and eating and corroding paper, wood, clothing, etc. It is thus used in the manufacture of ether, of imitation parchment, and of nitroglycerin. It is also used in etching iron, in removing iron scale from forgings, in petroleum refining, etc., and in general its manufacture is the most important and fundamental of all the chemical industries. Formerly called vitriolic acid, and now popularly vitriol, and oil of vitriol. Fuming sulphuric acid, or Nordhausen sulphuric acid. See Disulphuric acid, under Disulphuric. Sulphuric anhydride, sulphur trioxide. See under Sulphur. Sulphuric ether, common an[ae]sthetic ether; -- so called because made by the catalytic action of sulphuric acid on alcohol. See Ether, 3 (a) .

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

If you refer to what someone says or writes as vitriol, you disapprove of it because it is full of bitterness and hate, and so causes a lot of distress and pain. The vitriol he hurled at members of the press knew no bounds... = acrimony, venom [disapproval]

Moby Thesaurus

acrimony, animosity, animus, bad blood, bitter feeling, bitterness, feud, gall, hard feelings, ill blood, ill feeling, ill will, rancor, soreness, sourness, vendetta, venom, venomousness, virulence