Vol"a*tile (?), a. [F. volatil, L.
volatilis, fr. volare to fly, perhaps akin to velox
swift, E. velocity. Cf. Volley.] 1.
Passing through the air on wings, or by the buoyant force of the
atmosphere; flying; having the power to fly. [Obs.]
2. Capable of wasting away, or of easily passing
into the aëriform state; subject to evaporation.
&fist; Substances which affect the smell with pungent or fragrant odors,
as musk, hartshorn, and essential oils, are called volatile
substances, because they waste away on exposure to the atmosphere. Alcohol
and ether are called volatile liquids for a similar reason, and
because they easily pass into the state of vapor on the application of
heat. On the contrary, gold is a fixed substance, because it does
not suffer waste, even when exposed to the heat of a furnace; and oils are
called fixed when they do not evaporate on simple exposure to the
atmosphere.
3. Fig.: Light-hearted; easily affected by
circumstances; airy; lively; hence, changeable; fickle; as, a
volatile temper.
You are as giddy and volatile as ever.
Swift.
Volatile alkali. (Old Chem.) See under
Alkali. -- Volatile liniment, a liniment
composed of sweet oil and ammonia, so called from the readiness with which
the latter evaporates. -- Volatile oils.
(Chem.) See Essential oils, under
Essential.
Vol"a*tile, n. [Cf. F. volatile.]
A winged animal; wild fowl; game. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Sir T. Browne.
Vol"a*tile (?), a. [F. volatil, L.
volatilis, fr. volare to fly, perhaps akin to velox
swift, E. velocity. Cf. Volley.] 1.
Passing through the air on wings, or by the buoyant force of the
atmosphere; flying; having the power to fly. [Obs.]
2. Capable of wasting away, or of easily passing
into the aëriform state; subject to evaporation.
&fist; Substances which affect the smell with pungent or fragrant odors,
as musk, hartshorn, and essential oils, are called volatile
substances, because they waste away on exposure to the atmosphere. Alcohol
and ether are called volatile liquids for a similar reason, and
because they easily pass into the state of vapor on the application of
heat. On the contrary, gold is a fixed substance, because it does
not suffer waste, even when exposed to the heat of a furnace; and oils are
called fixed when they do not evaporate on simple exposure to the
atmosphere.
3. Fig.: Light-hearted; easily affected by
circumstances; airy; lively; hence, changeable; fickle; as, a
volatile temper.
You are as giddy and volatile as ever.
Swift.
Volatile alkali. (Old Chem.) See under
Alkali. -- Volatile liniment, a liniment
composed of sweet oil and ammonia, so called from the readiness with which
the latter evaporates. -- Volatile oils.
(Chem.) See Essential oils, under
Essential.
Vol"a*tile, n. [Cf. F. volatile.]
A winged animal; wild fowl; game. [Obs.] Chaucer.
Sir T. Browne.
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