noun

sulfur

SUHL-fuh

noun

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

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 notes

In 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.

Common pairings

smell of sulfur sulfur dioxide sulfur compound

Word Forms

more sulfur comparative, sulfured past tense, sulfurs plural, sulfurs singular, most sulfur superlative

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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.