blue vitriol

Save This Word!

noun Chemistry, Mineralogy.

a salt, copper sulfate, CuSO4⋅5H2O, occurring naturally as large transparent, deep-blue triclinic crystals, appearing in its anhydrous state as a white powder: used chiefly as a mordant, insecticide, fungicide, and in engraving.

QUIZ

WILL YOU SAIL OR STUMBLE ON THESE GRAMMAR QUESTIONS?

Smoothly step over to these common grammar mistakes that trip many people up. Good luck!

Question 1 of 7

Fill in the blank: I can’t figure out _____ gave me this gift.

who

whom

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Also called blue copperas, chalcanthite, cupric sulfate.

Origin of blue vitriol

First recorded in 1760–70

Words nearby blue vitriol

bluetongue, blue-tongued lizard, Bluetooth, blue vein, blue velvet, blue vitriol, blue-water, blueweed, blue whale, blue whistler, blue-winged teal

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use blue vitriol in a sentence

Clad in a blue, striped button-down, a silver watch adorning his left wrist, Huckabee beams on the cover.
Huckabee 2016: Bend Over and Take It Like a Prisoner!|Olivia Nuzzi|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Yeah, the “Giant man-puppy” that is Gronkowski won't hold a sexual candle to the blue-eyed dreamboat.
‘A Gronking to Remember’ Speed Read: 8 Naughtiest Bits|Emily Shire|January 7, 2015|DAILY BEAST
GOP leaders refused; they saw that Duke was pulling blue-collar Democrats to the party.
The Louisiana Racists Who Courted Steve Scalise|Jason Berry|January 3, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It denotes the person that puts on the badge, puts on the blue uniform, and goes into the streets to put their life at risk.
Cop Families Boo De Blasio at NYPD Graduation|Michael Daly|December 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST

They looked up into the blue sky as the helicopters flew over in a lost man formation.
Choking Back Tears, Thousands of Cops Honor Fallen Officer Ramos|Michael Daly|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In pursuing his alchemical researches, he discovered Prussian blue, and the animal oil which bears his name.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology|Joel Munsell
Mary is fair as the morning dew— Cheeks of roses and ribbons of blue!
Boys and Girls Bookshelf; a Practical Plan of Character Building, Volume I (of 17)|Various
His nose was hooked and rather large, his eyes were blue, bright as steel, and set a trifle wide.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
The most promising of the methods which have been devised are cryoscopy, the methylene-blue test, and the phloridzin test.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
He said no more in words, but his little blue eyes had an eloquence that left nothing to mere speech.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini

British Dictionary definitions for blue vitriol

blue vitriol

noun

the fully hydrated blue crystalline form of copper sulphate

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for blue vitriol

blue vitriol

A blue, crystalline compound of copper sulfate. Blue vitriol is soluble in water, and is a very important industrial salt of copper. It is used in insecticides and germicides, in electrolytes for batteries, and in electroplating baths. Chemical formula: CuSO4·5H2O.