English adjective: volatile | |||
1. | volatile evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures | ||
Samples | Volatile oils. Volatile solvents. | ||
Similar | evaporable, vaporific, vaporizable, vapourific, vapourisable, volatilisable, volatilizable | ||
See also | inconstant | ||
Domain category | chemical science, chemistry | ||
Antonyms | nonvolatile, nonvolatilisable, nonvolatilizable | ||
2. | volatile liable to lead to sudden change or violence | ||
Samples | An explosive issue. A volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation. | ||
Synonyms | explosive | ||
Similar | unstable | ||
Antonyms | stable | ||
3. | volatile marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments | ||
Samples | Fickle friends. A flirt's volatile affections. | ||
Synonyms | fickle | ||
Similar | inconstant | ||
Antonyms | constant | ||
4. | volatile tending to vary often or widely | ||
Samples | Volatile stocks. Volatile emotions. | ||
Similar | changeable, changeful | ||
Antonyms | unchangeable | ||
English noun: volatile | |||
1. | volatile (substance) a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor | ||
Samples | It was heated to evaporate the volatiles. | ||
Broader (hypernym) | substance | ||