a volatile substance; a substance that changes readily from solid or liquid to a vapor - it was heated to evaporate the volatiles • Hypernyms: substance
II - adjective
1. evaporating readily at normal temperatures and pressures (Freq. 2) - volatile oils - volatile solvents • Ant: nonvolatile • Similar to: evaporable, vaporific, vapourific, vaporizable, vapourisable, volatilizable, volatilisable • See Also: inconstant • Derivationally related forms: volatilize, volatility • Topics: chemistry, chemical science 2. liable to lead to sudden change or violence - an explosive issue - a volatile situation with troops and rioters eager for a confrontation • Syn: explosive • Similar to: unstable • Derivationally related forms: volatility 3. marked by erratic changeableness in affections or attachments - fickle friends - a flirt's volatile affections • Syn: fickle • Similar to: inconstant • Derivationally related forms: fickleness (for: fickle) 4. tending to vary often or widely - volatile stocks - volatile emotions • Similar to: changeable, changeful • Derivationally related forms: volatility
