sulfur
Sulfur (noun) means a pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control. Example: “The volcanic vents released a strong smell of sulfur.”
How to use sulfur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA yellow, strong-smelling chemical element, also associated in folklore with the smell of hell.
British English traditionally spells it "sulphur"; American English uses "sulfur," now the official scientific spelling.
Word forms
more sulfur comparative, sulfured past tense, sulfurs plural, sulfurs singular, most sulfur superlative
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The volcanic vents released a strong smell of _____.
Etymology
From Middle English sulphur, via Anglo-Norman, ultimately from Latin sulpur/sulfur of uncertain origin. It displaced the native Old English word swefl.
Synonyms
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Frequently asked questions
What does “sulfur” mean?
The word “sulfur” means a pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control. In plain terms, a yellow, strong-smelling chemical element, also associated in folklore with the smell of hell.
How do you pronounce “sulfur”?
“Sulfur” is pronounced SUHL-fuh (/ˈsʌl.fɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “sulfur” in a sentence?
Here is “sulfur” used in a sentence: “The volcanic vents released a strong smell of sulfur.”
What part of speech is “sulfur”?
Depending on how it is used, “sulfur” can be a noun and an adjective.
Where does the word “sulfur” come from?
The word “sulfur” comes from Latin. From Middle English sulphur, via Anglo-Norman, ultimately from Latin sulpur/sulfur of uncertain origin. It displaced the native Old English word swefl.
Is “sulfur” a common word?
“Sulfur” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “sulfur” have?
“Sulfur” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control.