sulfur

Multiple Entries:
  sulfur    sulphur  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sulfur etc.

▶noun US spelling of sulphur.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
sulphur /ˈsʌlfə(r)/ (US & Chemistry sulfur)

▶noun

• 1 the chemical element of atomic number 16, a combustible non-metal which typically occurs as yellow crystals. (Symbol: S)

  ■ the material of which hellfire and lightning were formerly believed to consist.

• 2 a pale greenish-yellow colour.

• 3 an American butterfly with predominantly yellow wings. [Colias and other genera.]

▶verb disinfect or fumigate with sulphur.

– derivatives
sulphureous adjective,
sulphury adjective.

– origin ME: from Anglo-Norman Fr. sulfre, from L. sulfur, sulphur.