Volatile



GRE 蓝宝 Barron TOEFL

解释

GRE 红宝书

• adj.反复无常的; 挥发性的
• ［英］ adj.反复无常的 ( subject to rapid or unexpected change) ; 挥发性的 ( readily vaporizable)
• ［记］ volat ( 飞) +ile -> 飞走的, 挥发性的
• ［同］ 同根词: volant ( 飞行的, 敏捷的) ;volary ( 大型鸟舍)

Webster Collegiate

I. adjective

• Etymology: French, from Latin volatilis, from volare to fly
• Date: 1605
• 1. readily vaporizable at a relatively low temperature
• 2. flying or having the power to fly
• 3.
  • a. lighthearted, lively
  • b. easily aroused <volatile suspicions>
  • c. tending to erupt into violence ; explosive <a volatile temper>
• 4.
  • a. unable to hold the attention fixed because of an inherent lightness or fickleness of disposition
  • b. characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change <a volatile market>
• 5. difficult to capture or hold permanently ; evanescent, transitory
• ? volatileness noun
• ? volatility noun

II. noun

• Date: 1686
• a volatile substance

---