sulfur
SUHL-fuh
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.”
noun
1
A pale yellow chemical element known for its strong smell, used in matches, gunpowder, and pest control.
"The volcanic vents released a strong smell of sulfur."
"Sulfur is added to some wines as a preservative."
adjective
1
Having a yellowish-green colour like the element.
"The butterfly's sulfur wings stood out against the dark leaves."
How to use sulfur
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA yellow, strong-smelling chemical element, also associated in folklore with the smell of hell.
UK vs US
British English traditionally spells it "sulphur"; American English uses "sulfur," now the official scientific spelling.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
smell of sulfur
sulfur dioxide
sulfur compound
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Word forms
- Plural
- sulfurs
- Third person singular
- sulfurs
- Past tense
- sulfured
- Comparative
- more sulfur
- Superlative
- most sulfur
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
View more →Related words
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.
