volatile
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vol·a·tile
(vŏl′ə-tl, -tīl′)adj.
1. Chemistry
a. Evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures.
b. Capable of being readily vaporized.
2.
a. Tending to vary often or widely, as in price: the ups and downs of volatile stocks.
b. Inconstant; fickle: a flirt's volatile affections.
c. Lighthearted; flighty: in a volatile mood.
d. Ephemeral; fleeting.
3. Tending to violence; explosive: a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation.
4. Flying or capable of flying; volant.
5. Computers Of or relating to memory whose data is erased when the memory's power is interrupted.
[French, from Old French, from Latin volātilis, flying, from volātus, past participle of volāre, to fly.]
vol′a·tile n.
vol′a·til′i·ty (-tĭl′ĭ-tē), vol′a·tile·ness (-tl-nĭs, -tīl′-) n.
volatile
(ˈvɒləˌtaɪl)adj
1. (Chemistry) (of a substance) capable of readily changing from a solid or liquid form to a vapour; having a high vapour pressure and a low boiling point
2. (of persons) disposed to caprice or inconstancy; fickle; mercurial
3. (of circumstances) liable to sudden, unpredictable, or explosive change
4. lasting only a short time: volatile business interests.
5. (Computer Science) computing (of a memory) not retaining stored information when the power supply is cut off
6. obsolete flying or capable of flight; volant
n
7. (Chemistry) a volatile substance
8. rare a winged creature
[C17: from Latin volātīlis flying, from volāre to fly]
ˈvolatileness, volatility n
vol•a•tile
(ˈvɒl ə tl, -tɪl; esp. Brit. -ˌtaɪl)adj.
1. evaporating rapidly; passing off readily in the form of vapor: Acetone is a volatile solvent.
2. tending or threatening to break out into open violence; explosive: a volatile political situation.
3. characterized by or liable to sharp or sudden changes; unstable: a volatile stock market.
4. changeable, as in mood or temper; mercurial; flighty.
5. fleeting; transient.
6. (of computer storage) not retaining data when electrical power is turned off.
7. Archaic. flying or able to fly.
n. 8. a volatile substance, as a gas or solvent.
[1250–1300; Middle English < Latin volātilis able to fly =volā(re) to fly + -tilis -tile]
vol`a•til′i•ty (-ˈtɪl ɪ ti) vol′a•tile•ness, n.
vol·a·tile
(vŏl′ə-tl) Changing easily from liquid to vapor at normal temperatures and pressures.
volatile
Describes a substance which readily turns into a vapor.
ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:
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Noun | 1. | volatile - a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor; "it was heated to evaporate the volatiles" substance - the real physical matter of which a person or thing consists; "DNA is the substance of our genes" |
Adj. | 1. | ![]() chemical science, chemistry - the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions inconstant - likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason; variable; "inconstant affections"; "an inconstant lover"; "swear not by...the inconstant moon"- Shakespeare |
2. | ![]() unstable - lacking stability or fixity or firmness; "unstable political conditions"; "the tower proved to be unstable in the high wind"; "an unstable world economy" | |
3. | volatile - marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments; "fickle friends"; "a flirt's volatile affections" inconstant - likely to change frequently often without apparent or cogent reason; variable; "inconstant affections"; "an inconstant lover"; "swear not by...the inconstant moon"- Shakespeare | |
4. | volatile - tending to vary often or widely; "volatile stocks"; "volatile emotions" changeful, changeable - such that alteration is possible; having a marked tendency to change; "changeable behavior"; "changeable moods"; "changeable prices" |
volatile
adjective
1. changeable, shifting, variable, unsettled, unstable, explosive, unreliable, unsteady, inconstant There have been riots before and the situation is volatile.
changeable stable, constant, steady, inert, settled
changeable stable, constant, steady, inert, settled
2. temperamental, erratic, mercurial, up and down (informal), fickle, whimsical, giddy, flighty, over-emotional, inconstant She has a volatile temperament.
temperamental calm, consistent, reliable, sober, self-controlled, dependable, cool-headed
temperamental calm, consistent, reliable, sober, self-controlled, dependable, cool-headed
3. unstable, explosive, inflammable, labile (technical), eruptive when volatile chemicals explode
volatile
adjectiveFollowing no predictable pattern:
Translations
prchavý
volatil
epävakaa
揮発性爆弾発破
volatile
adj
(Chem) → flüchtig
person (in moods) → impulsiv; (in interests) → sprunghaft; (Psych: = unpredictable) → sprunghaft; relationship → wechselhaft; political situation → brisant; (St Ex) → unbeständig; a person with a volatile temper → ein sehr unberechenbarer Mensch
(Comput) volatile memory → flüchtiger Speicher
vol·a·tile
a. volátil, que se evapora fácilmente.