sulphur

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sul·phur

(sŭl′fər)

n. & v.

Variant of sulfur.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

sulphur

(ˈsʌlfə) or

sulfur

(Elements & Compounds)

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°C. thionic

b. (as modifier): sulphur springs.

[C14 soufre, from Old French, from Latin sulfur]

sulphuric, sulfuric adj

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sul•fur

(ˈsʌl fər)

n.

1. Also, esp. Brit., sulphur. a nonmetallic element, ordinarily a flammable yellow solid, of widespread occurrence in combined form, as in sulfide and sulfate compounds and cellular protein: used esp. in making gunpowder and matches, in medicine, and in vulcanizing rubber.Symbol: S; at. wt.: 32.064; at. no.: 16; sp. gr.: 2.07 at 20° C.

2. sulphur (def. 2).

[1300–50; Middle English < Latin sulp(h)ur, sulfur brimstone, sulfur]

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

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Noun	1.	sulphur - 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) atomic number 16, sulfur, S chemical element, element - any of the more than 100 known substances (of which 92 occur naturally) that cannot be separated into simpler substances and that singly or in combination constitute all matter brimstone, native sulfur, native sulphur - an old name for sulfur sulfide, sulphide - a compound of sulphur and some other element that is more electropositive oil of vitriol, sulfuric acid, sulphuric acid, vitriol - (H2SO4) a highly corrosive acid made from sulfur dioxide; widely used in the chemical industry
Verb	1.	sulphur - treat with sulphur in order to preserve; "These dried fruits are sulphured" sulfur process, treat - subject to a process or treatment, with the aim of readying for some purpose, improving, or remedying a condition; "process cheese"; "process hair"; "treat the water so it can be drunk"; "treat the lawn with chemicals" ; "treat an oil spill"

sulphur

noun

Related words
adjective thionic

Collins Thesaurus of the English Language – Complete and Unabridged 2nd Edition. 2002 © HarperCollins Publishers 1995, 2002

Translations

كِبْريت

síra

svovl

Schwefel

azufre

soufre

kén

brennisteinn

zolfo solfato solforare solfuro sulfamidico

sierasulfatas

sērs

svovel

síra

kükürt

硫硫磺

sulphur

[ˈsʌlfəʳ]

A. N → azufre m

B. CPD sulphur dioxide N → dióxido m de azufre

Collins Spanish Dictionary - Complete and Unabridged 8th Edition 2005 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1971, 1988 © HarperCollins Publishers 1992, 1993, 1996, 1997, 2000, 2003, 2005

sulphur

[ˈsʌlfə^r] (British) sulfur (US) n → soufre msulphur dioxide (British) sulfur dioxide (US) n → anhydride m sulfureuxsulphuric acid [sʌlˌfjʊərɪkˈæsɪd] (British) sulfuric acid (US) adj → acide m sulfurique

Collins English/French Electronic Resource. © HarperCollins Publishers 2005

sulphur

, (US) sulfur

n → Schwefel m

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

sulphur

[ˈsʌlfəʳ] n → zolfo

Collins Italian Dictionary 1st Edition © HarperCollins Publishers 1995

sulphur

(American) sulfur (ˈsalfə) noun

a light yellow non-metallic element found in the earth, which burns with a blue flame giving off a choking smell and is used in matches, gunpowder etc.

ˈsulphate (-feit) noun

any of several substances containing sulphur, oxygen and some other element.

sulphur, sulfur

n azufre m; — dioxide dióxido de azufre

References in classic literature ?

In the centre of the great circus ring thus formed, was a torn and ragged upheaval a hundred feet high, all snowed over with a sulphur crust of many and many a brilliant and beautiful color, and the ditch inclosed this like the moat of a castle, or surrounded it as a little river does a little island, if the simile is better.

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This appeared to be devoted to minerals, and the sight of a block of sulphur set my mind running on gunpowder.

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Stuart- Dreary Wilds.- Thirsty Travelling.-A Grove and Streamlet.- The Blue Mountains.- A Fertile Plain With Rivulets.- Sulphur Spring- Route Along Snake River- Rumors of White Men.-The Snake and His Horse.- A Snake Guide.-A Midnight Decampment.- Unexpected Meeting With Old Comrades- Story of Trappers' Hardships- Salmon Falls- A Great Fishery.- Mode of Spearing Salmon.- Arrival at the Caldron Linn.- State of the Caches.

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In one way or another (to say nothing of the many worthless creeks) he came into possession of properties on the good creeks, such as Sulphur, Dominion, Excelsis, Siwash, Cristo, Alhambra, and Doolittle.

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Some of his low places he found lifted to ideals, some of his ideas had sunk to the valleys, and lay there with the sackcloth and ashes of pumice stone and sulphur on their ruined heads.

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In the first he put those who did not take an active part in the affairs of the lodges or in human affairs, but were exclusively occupied with the mystical science of the order: with questions of the threefold designation of God, the three primordial elements- sulphur, mercury, and salt- or the meaning of the square and all the various figures of the temple of Solomon.

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Lard and sulphur on his paws would be of no use, nor would any visit to Peg Bowen avail.

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There stood a Hill not far whose griesly top Belch'd fire and rowling smoak; the rest entire Shon with a glossie scurff, undoubted sign That in his womb was hid metallic Ore, The work of Sulphur. Thither wing'd with speed A numerous Brigad hasten'd.

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We crossed the ravine down which smoked the stream of hot water, and followed the winding pathway through the canebrakes until we reached a wide area covered over with a thick, powdery yellow substance which I believe was sulphur. Above the shoulder of a weedy bank the sea glittered.

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When they had done this they washed their hands and feet and went back into the house, for all was now over; and Ulysses said to the dear old nurse Euryclea, "Bring me sulphur, which cleanses all pollution, and fetch fire also that I may burn it, and purify the cloisters.

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I sent for preparations of sulphur, I rousted out the croup-kettle myself; for I don't sit down and wait for doctors when Sandy or the child is sick.

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Where was this hell which I had reasonably expected would gape leagues of sulphur and blue flame beneath the little marble table?