browse words by letter
a
b
c
d
e
f
g
h
i
j
k
l
m
n
o
p
q
r
s
t
u
v
w
x
y
z
volatile |
4 definitions found From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Volatile \Vol"a*tile\, a. [F. volatil, L. volatilis fr volare to fly, perhaps akin to velox swift, E. velocity. Cf {Volley}.] 1. Passing through the air on wings, or by the buoyant force of the atmosphere; flying; having the power to fly. [Obs.] 2. Capable of wasting away or of easily passing into the a["e]riform state; subject to evaporation. Note: Substances which affect the smell with pungent or fragrant odors, as musk, hartshorn, and essential oils, are called volatile substances, because they waste away on exposure to the atmosphere. Alcohol and ether are called volatile liquids for a similar reason, and because they easily pass into the state of vapor on the application of heat. On the contrary, gold is a fixed substance, because it does not suffer waste, even when exposed to the heat of a furnace; and oils are called fixed when they do not evaporate on simple exposure to the atmosphere. 3. Fig.: Light-hearted; easily affected by circumstances; airy; lively; hence changeable; fickle; as a volatile temper. You are as giddy and volatile as ever. --Swift. {Volatile alkali}. (Old Chem.) See under {Alkali}. {Volatile liniment}, a liniment composed of sweet oil and ammonia, so called from the readiness with which the latter evaporates. {Volatile oils}. (Chem.) See {Essential oils}, under {Essential}. From Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary (1913) [web1913]: Volatile \Vol"a*tile\, n. [Cf. F. volatile.] A winged animal; wild fowl; game. [Obs.] --Chaucer. --Sir T. Browne. From WordNet r 1.6 [wn]: volatile adj 1: (chemistry) evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures; "volatile oils"; "volatile solvents" [ant: {nonvolatile}] 2: liable to lead to sudden change or violence; "an explosive issue"; "a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation" [syn: {explosive}] 3: marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments; "fickle friends"; "a flirt's volatile affections" [syn: {fickle}] 4: tending to vary often or widely; "volatile stocks"; "volatile emotions" n : a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor; "it was heated to evaporate the volatiles" From The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (13 Mar 01) [foldoc]: volatile 1.{volatile variable}. 2. See {non-volatile storage}. (1997-06-05)
more about volatile
This work is licensed under a
