Definitions

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun Chemical symbol, S; atomic weight, 31.98. An elementary substance which occurs in nature as a brittle crystalline solid, with resinous luster, almost tasteless, and emitting when rubbed or warmed a peculiar characteristic odor.
  • noun The supposed substance of lightning.
  • noun In zoology, one of many different pieridine butterflies: a yellow pierian.
  • Of the color of brimstone, or stick-sulphur; of a very greenish, excessively luminous, and highly chromatic yellow: used in zoölogy in many obvious compounds: as, sulphur-bellied; sulphur-crested.
  • To apply sulphur to; also, to fume with sulphur;, sulphurate.

from the GNU version of the Collaborative International Dictionary of English.

  • noun (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.
  • noun (Zoöl.) Any one of numerous species of yellow or orange butterflies of the subfamily Pierinæ.
  • noun (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.
  • noun (Old Chem.) See Hepar.
  • noun (Chem.) See Sulphacid.
  • noun (Chem.) See Mercaptan.
  • noun (Old Chem.) a golden yellow powder, consisting of antimonic sulphide, Sb2S5, -- formerly a famous nostrum.
  • noun (Chem.), [Archaic] an alkaline sulphide capable of acting as a base in the formation of sulphur salts according to the old dual theory of salts.
  • noun (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.
  • noun (Chem.) a sulphide of hydrocarbon radicals, formed like the ordinary ethers, which are oxides, but with sulphur in the place of oxygen.
  • noun (Chem.) a salt of a sulphacid; a sulphosalt.
  • noun showers of yellow pollen, resembling sulphur in appearance, often carried from pine forests by the wind to a great distance.
  • noun (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.
  • noun (Zoöl.) See Sulphur-bottom.
  • noun (Bot.) lycopodium powder. See under Lycopodium.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun Alternative spelling of sulfur.
  • verb Alternative spelling of sulfur.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • verb treat with sulphur in order to preserve
  • noun 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)

Etymologies

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  • Also sulfur.

    October 14, 2008

  • This was used in "The Greek Interpreter." and almost killed the interpreter and made Mycroft, Sherlock, Watson and the guys from Scotland Yard sick.

    December 24, 2012