sulfur

[ suhl-fer ]

noun

1. Also especially British, Chemistry. a nonmetallic element that exists in several forms, the ordinary one being a yellow rhombic crystalline solid, and that burns with a blue flame and a suffocating odor: used especially in making gunpowder and matches, in medicine, in vulcanizing rubber, etc. : S; : 32.064; : 16; : 2.07 at 20° C.
2. sulphur ( def 2 ).

sulfur

/ ˈsʌlfə /

noun

1. See sulphur
   the US preferred spelling of sulphur

sulfur

/ sŭl′fər /

1. A pale-yellow, brittle nonmetallic element that occurs widely in nature, especially in volcanic deposits, minerals, natural gas, and petroleum. It is used to make gunpowder and fertilizer, to vulcanize rubber, and to produce sulfuric acid. Atomic number 16; atomic weight 32.066; melting point (rhombic) 112.8°C; (monoclinic) 119.0°C; boiling point 444.6°C; specific gravity (rhombic) 2.07; (monoclinic) 1.957; valence 2, 4, 6.
2. See Periodic Table

Word History and Origins

Origin of sulfur¹

1300–50; Middle English sulphur < Latin sulpur, sulphur, sulfur brimstone, sulfur

Example Sentences

Instead they generate energy for their metabolism by chemically changing … sulfur that they ingest.

From Science News

They combined a mixture of hydrogen, carbon, and sulfur then fired a laser at it to trigger a chemical reaction and create a crystal.

From Singularity Hub 

A laser was shined at the compound for several hours to break down bonds between the sulfur atoms, thus changing the chemistry of the system and the behavior of electrons in the sample.

From MIT Technology Review

The hydrogen, carbon and sulfur compound operates as a superconductor at up to 59 degrees Fahrenheit, the team reported today in Nature.

From Quanta Magazine

Dias and colleagues formed the superconductor by squeezing carbon, hydrogen and sulfur between the tips of two diamonds and hitting the material with laser light to induce chemical reactions.

From Science News

One easy way to build them back up is to take a bath with Epsom salts, which contain sulfur.

From The Daily Beast

Sulfur boosts glutathione because glutathione is, in part, made up of sulfur molecules, explains Hyman.

From The Daily Beast

Pfifferling, like most natural wine producers, adds no sulfur dioxide aside from minimal amounts when he bottles the wine.

From The Daily Beast

The initial cause was probably a Siberian mega-volcano that spewed highly reflective sulfur particles into the atmosphere.

From The Daily Beast

After he inhaled sulfur hexafluoride, a compound that acts like helium, his voice got very deep.

From The Daily Beast

Myiodynastes luteiventris luteiventris Sclater: Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher.

From Project Gutenberg

They will order spelling according to the Standard Dictionary, yet will not accept sulfur, rime, or worshiping.

From Project Gutenberg

Parallel with it runs an aqueduct which supplied the works with motive power, derived probably from the sulfur springs.

From Project Gutenberg

After breaking, four grains of powdered sulfur to twenty-two gallons of milk are added.

From Project Gutenberg

We omitted sulfur from the later sprays and did not note any more burning.

From Project Gutenberg