volatility

Variant of volatile

volatile definition

vola·tile (väl′ə təl; chiefly Brit, -tīl′)

adjective

  1. Obsolete flying or able to fly; volitant
  2. vaporizing or evaporating quickly, as alcohol
    1. likely to shift quickly and unpredictably; unstable; explosive a volatile social condition
    2. moving capriciously from one idea, interest, etc. to another; fickle
    3. not lasting long; fleeting
  4. 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

  1. any flying creature
  2. a volatile substance

Related Forms:

Webster's New World College Dictionary Copyright © 2009 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Cleveland, Ohio.
Used by arrangement with John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

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