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Webster's New World College Dictionary » volatile
volatile
volatile definition
vola·tile (väl′ə təl; chiefly Brit, -tīl′)
adjective
- Obsolete flying or able to fly; volitant
- vaporizing or evaporating quickly, as alcohol
- likely to shift quickly and unpredictably; unstable; explosive a volatile social condition
- moving capriciously from one idea, interest, etc. to another; fickle
- not lasting long; fleeting
- Comput. designating or of memory that does not retain stored data when the power supply is disconnected
Etymology: MFr < L volatilis < volare, to fly
noun
- any flying creature
- a volatile substance
Related Forms:
- volatility vol′a·til′·ity (-til′ə tē) noun or volatileness vol′a·tile·ness
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