vol|a|tile

vol|a|tile
vol|a|tile «VOL uh tuhl», adjective, noun.
–adj.
1. evaporating rapidly at ordinary temperatures; changing into vapor easily: »

Gasoline is volatile.

2. Figurative. changing rapidly from one mood or interest to another; fickle; frivolous: »

He has a volatile disposition and can change from merry to sad very quickly.

SYNONYM(S): capricious, mercurial.
3. changeable; unstable: »

Some volatile stocks were on the active list (Wall Street Journal).

4. likely to break out into violence; explosive: »

a volatile temper. Riots erupted in Kerala, a politically volatile and troubled southern state (Norman D. Palmer).

5. Figurative. readily vanishing or disappearing; transient: »

volatile dreams.

6. that can fly; flying; volant.
–n.
1. a volatile matter or substance.
2. a winged creature, such as a bird or a butterfly: »

As to the volatiles of this country, there are turkeys…parrots, woodquists (John Davies).

╂[< Latin volātilis flying < volāre to fly]
–vol´a|tile|ness, noun.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

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Look at other dictionaries:

  • vol´a|tile|ness — vol|a|tile «VOL uh tuhl», adjective, noun. –adj. 1. evaporating rapidly at ordinary temperatures; changing into vapor easily: »Gasoline is volatile. 2. Figurative. changing rapidly from one mood or interest to another; fickle; frivolous: »He has… …   Useful english dictionary

  • in|vol|a|tile — «ihn VOL uh tuhl», adjective. not volatile; incapable of being vaporized …   Useful english dictionary

  • sem|i|vol|a|tile — «SEHM ee VOL uh tuhl», adjective. partly volatile …   Useful english dictionary

  • vol — vol·un·teer·ism; vol; vol·a·tile; vol·can·ic; vol·i·tive; vol·ley; vol·plane; vol·sci·an; vol·ta·ic; vol·tair·e·an; vol·ume; vol·un·tary; vol·un·teer; vol·u·toid; bi·vol·tin; bi·vol·tin·ism; con·vol·vu·la·ceous; in·vol·u·cel·late;… …   English syllables

  • tile — bis·sex·tile; cas·tile; cen·tile; chrys·o·tile; coc·tile; co·le·op·tile; duc·tile; duc·tile·ly; erec·tile; ex·sec·tile; ex·ser·tile; fer·tile; fer·tile·ly; fer·tile·ness; flu·vi·a·tile; fu·tile; hos·tile·ly; hos·tile·ness; in·fan·tile; len·tile;… …   English syllables

  • Tile — For other uses, see Tile (disambiguation). Decorative tilework in Sheikh Lotf Allah Mosque, Isfahan, Iran early 17th century A tile is a manufactured piece of hard wearing material such as ceramic, stone, metal, or even glass. Tiles are generally …   Wikipedia

  • brick and tile — ▪ building material Introduction       structural clay products, manufactured as standard units, used in building construction.       The brick, first produced in a sun dried form at least 6,000 years ago and the forerunner of a wide range of… …   Universalium

  • Gymnothorax tile —   Gymnothorax tile Clasificación científica Reino: Ani …   Wikipedia Español

  • volatile — vol·a·tile …   English syllables

  • volatile — vol•a•tile [[t]ˈvɒl ə tl, tɪl[/t]] esp. brit. [[t] ˌtaɪl[/t]] adj. 1) chem. evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor: Acetone is a volatile solvent[/ex] 2) tending or threatening to break out into open violence; explosive: a… …   From formal English to slang

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