volatile
pronunciation
How to pronounce volatile in British English:
UK [ˈvɒlətaɪl]
How to pronounce volatile in American English:
US [ˈvɑːlətl]
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- Noun:
- a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor
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- Adjective:
- evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures
- liable to lead to sudden change or violence
- marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments
- tending to vary often or widely
Word Origin
- volatile
- volatile: see volley
- volatile (adj.)
- 1590s "fine or light," also "evaporating rapidly" (c. 1600), from Middle French volatile, from Latin volatilis "fleeting, transitory; swift, rapid; flying, winged," from past participle stem of volare "to fly" (see volant). Sense of "readily changing, flighty, fickle" is first recorded 1640s. Volatiles in Middle English meant "birds, butterflies, and other winged creatures" (c. 1300).
Example
- 1. A volatile political system makes these reforms hard to achieve .
- 2. The next several years could be decidedly volatile ones for china .
- 3. Zach harper , daily dime live : cousins is a volatile , young player .
- 4. So why will prices stay high and volatile ?
- 5. Secular jews continue to leave jerusalem for the coastal cities , ceding it to a volatile cocktail of religious jews and resentful arabs in the east of the city .