sulfur

[ suhl-fer ]
/ ˈsʌl fər /

noun

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.
sulphur(def 2).

Origin of sulfur

1300–50; Middle English sulphur < Latin sulpur, sulphur, sulfur brimstone, sulfur

Words nearby sulfur

sulfonylurea, sulfosalicylic acid, sulfosalicylic acid turbidity test, sulfotransferase, sulfoxide, sulfur, sulfur bacteria, sulfur butterfly, sulfur dioxide, sulfur dye, sulfur spring

Example sentences from the Web for sulfur

British Dictionary definitions for sulfur

sulfur
/ (ˈsʌlfə) /

noun

the US preferred spelling of sulphur

Medical definitions for sulfur

sulfur

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.

Scientific definitions for sulfur

sulfur

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.