sulphur

[ suhl-fer ]

/ ˈsʌl fər /

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noun

Also sulfur. yellow with a greenish tinge; lemon color.

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…

candystring

candyfloss

candypuff

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of sulphur

Variant of sulfur

Words nearby sulphur

sulphone, sulphonic acid, sulphonium compound, sulphonmethane, sulphonyl, sulphur, sulphurate, sulphur-bottom, sulphur butterfly, sulphur-crested cockatoo, sulphur dioxide

Other definitions for sulphur (2 of 2)

Sulphur

[ suhl-fer ]

/ ˈsʌl fər /

noun

a city in SW Louisiana.

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

How to use sulphur in a sentence

Here are the best hikes to sulphur pools in the United States.
The 25 Best Hikes to Hot Springs in the U.S.|eriley|January 31, 2022|Outside Online
Let blue flames rise from the living sulphur and the sheep bleat loud as she feels the touch of the smoking sulphur.
The Religion of Ancient Rome|Cyril Bailey
Thou who didst teach weak men and those who suffer To mix saltpetre and sulphur,Have pity on my long misery!
Charles Baudelaire, His Life|Thophile Gautier
Ain't got used to brimstone yet, but I'd trade mosquitoes for sulphur smoke and give some boot.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower

Found enormous ledge of black quartz, looks like sulphur stem during volcanic era but may be iron.
Cabin Fever|B. M. Bower
The fumes of the sulphur have the effect of destroying the color, or whitening the straw.
The Ladies' Book of Etiquette, and Manual of Politeness|Florence Hartley

British Dictionary definitions for sulphur

sulphur

US sulfur

/ (ˈsʌlfə) /

noun

an allotropic nonmetallic element, occurring free in volcanic regions and in combined state in gypsum, pyrite, and galena. The stable yellow rhombic form converts on heating to monoclinic needles. It is used in the production of sulphuric acid, in the vulcanization of rubber, and in fungicides. Symbol: S; atomic no: 16; atomic wt: 32.066; valency: 2, 4, or 6; relative density: 2.07 (rhombic), 1.957 (monoclinic); melting pt: 115.22°C (rhombic), 119.0°C (monoclinic); boiling pt: 444.674°CRelated adjective: thionic
(as modifier)sulphur springs

Derived forms of sulphur

sulphuric or US sulfuric (sʌlˈfjʊərɪk), adjective

Word Origin for sulphur

C14 soufre, from Old French, from Latin sulfur

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