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sulf-

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a combining form representing sulfur in compound words: sulfarsphenamine.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Also sulfo-; especially British, sulph-.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

WORDS THAT USE SULF-

What does sulf- mean?

The combining form sulf- is used like a prefix meaning “sulfur,” a nonmetallic element known for its distinctive odor. This form is often used in scientific terms, especially in chemistry.

The form sulf- comes from Latin sulfur, meaning both “sulfur” and “brimstone.”

What are variants of sulf-?

When combined with words or word elements that begin with a consonant, sulf- becomes sulfo-, as in sulfocarbanilide. In British English, sulf- is spelled sulph- or sulpho-, as in sulphide. Want to know more? Read our Words That Use articles for these combining forms.

Examples of sulf-

One example of a scientific term that features the form sulf- is sulfide, “a compound of sulfur.”

The sulf- part of the word means “sulfur,” while the -ide portion is a suffix used to name chemical compounds. Sulfide literally means “sulfur compound.”

What are some words that use the combining form sulf-?

What are some other forms that sulf- may be commonly confused with?

Break it down!

The suffix -ite is used to name chemical compounds that are the salts of acids. With this in mind, what is sulfite?

British Dictionary definitions for sulf-

sulf-

combining form
a US variant of sulph-

undefined sulf-

See sulph-
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
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