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Webster 1913 Edition


Vitriol

Vit′ri-ol

,
Noun.
[F.
vitriol
; cf. Pr.
vitriol
,
vetriol
, Sp. & Pg.
vitriolo
, It.
vitriuolo
; fr. L.
vitreolus
of glass,
vitreus
vitreous. See
Vitreous
.]
(Chem.)
(a)
A sulphate of any one of certain metals, as copper, iron, zinc, cobalt. So called on account of the glassy appearance or luster.
(b)
Sulphuric acid; – called also
oil of vitriol
. So called because first made by the distillation of green vitriol. See
Sulphuric acid
, under
Sulphuric
.
[Colloq.]
Blue vitriol
.
See under
Blue
.
Green vitriol
,
ferrous sulphate; copperas. See under
Green
.
Oil of vitriol
,
sulphuric or vitriolic acid; – popularly so called because it has the consistency of oil.
Red vitriol
,
a native sulphate of cobalt.
Vitriol of Mars
,
ferric sulphate, a white crystalline substance which dissolves in water, forming a red solution.
White vitriol
,
zinc sulphate, a white crystalline substance used in medicine and in dyeing. It is usually obtained by dissolving zinc in sulphuric acid, or by roasting and oxidizing certain zinc ores. Formerly called also
vitriol of zinc
.

Webster 1828 Edition


Vitriol

VIT'RIOL

,
Noun.
[L. vitrum, glass; perhaps from its color.]
1.
In mineralogy, native vitriol is a substance of a grayish or yellowish white color, apple green, or sky blue, and when decomposed, covered with an ochery crust. It occurs in masses, disseminated, stalactical, or capillary. Externally, it is dull and rough; internally, it is more or less shining, with a vitreous silky structure. It is called by manufacturers copperas, a name derived from the flower or efflorescence of copper. This substance is seem only in cabinets.
2.
In chimistry, a combination of the acid of sulphur with any metallic substance; but chiefly green vitriol, or sulphate of iron; blue vitriol, or sulphate of copper, and white vitriol, or sulphate of zink.
All metals may be converted into vitriols, by dissolving them with acid spirits, and suffering them to stand and crystallize.

Definition 2024


Vitriol

Vitriol

See also: vitriol

German

Noun

Vitriol n (genitive Vitriols, no plural)

  1. vitriol (sulfuric acid)
  2. blue vitriol

Synonyms

(blue vitriol): Chalkanthit, Kupfervitriol

vitriol

vitriol

See also: Vitriol

English

Noun

vitriol (countable and uncountable, plural vitriols)

  1. (dated) Sulphuric acid and various metal sulphates.
  2. (by extension) Bitterly abusive language.
    • 2012 November 2, Ken Belson, "," New York Times (retrieved 2 November 2012):
      For days, online forums sparked with outrage against politicians and race organizers, a tone that turned to vitriol against runners, even from some shaming other runners for being selfish.

Derived terms

Translations

Verb

vitriol (third-person singular simple present vitriols, present participle vitrioling or vitriolling, simple past and past participle vitrioled or vitriolled)

  1. (transitive) To subject to bitter verbal abuse.
  2. (transitive, metallurgy) To dip in dilute sulphuric acid; to pickle.
  3. (transitive, colloquial) To vitriolize.

French

Pronunciation

Noun

vitriol m (plural vitriols)

  1. vitriol (all senses)