volatilize

verb

vol·​a·​til·​ize ˈvä-lə-tə-ˌlīz 

British also

və-ˈla-tə-ˌlīz 

volatilized; volatilizing

transitive verb

: to make volatile

especially : to cause to pass off in vapor

intransitive verb

: to pass off in vapor

volatilizable

ˈvä-lə-tə-ˌlī-zə-bəl 

 British also  və-ˈla-tə-ˌlī-

adjective

volatilization

ˌvä-lə-tə-lə-ˈzā-shən 

 British also  və-ˌla-tə-ˌlī-ˈzā-

noun

Examples of volatilize in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

For example, some will volatilize and drift with the breeze in warm weather. —oregonlive, 3 June 2023

The idea is that this shape allows a wine’s aromatic compounds to volatilize when swirled around in the wider base. —Esther Mobley, San Francisco Chronicle, 3 Feb. 2022

Applications made in the summer months for weed control are very prone to volatilize. —oregonlive.com, 9 Aug. 2019

These products tend to volatilize if used in warm weather and can move with the air to affect nearby plants. —oregonlive.com, 19 July 2019

And hotter weather, also tied to climate change, causes mercury to volatilize and be released. —Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, 14 June 2019

Word History

First Known Use

1657, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Medical Definition

volatilize

verb

vol·​a·​til·​ize

variants also British volatilise

ˈväl-ət-ᵊl-ˌīz, British also və-ˈlat-

volatilized also British volatilised; volatilizing also British volatilising

transitive verb

: to make volatile

especially : to cause to pass off in vapor

intransitive verb

: to pass off in vapor

volatilizable adjective

also British volatilisable

-ˌī-zə-bəl 

volatilization noun

also British volatilisation

ˌväl-ət-ᵊl-ə-ˈzā-shən, British also və-ˌlat-ᵊl-ˌī-ˈ