Word of the Day

: March 14, 2007

volatile

adjective VAH-luh-tul

What It Means

1 : readily vaporizable at a relatively low temperature

2 : tending to erupt into violence : explosive

3 : characterized by or subject to rapid or unexpected change

volatile in Context

The country's unsteady economy is due to volatile global markets and the new government's rash economic reforms.

Did You Know?

"Volatile" was originally for the birds -- quite literally. Back in the 14th century, "volatile" was a noun that referred to birds (especially wild fowl) or other winged creatures, such as butterflies. That's not as flighty as it sounds. "Volatile" traces back to the Latin verb "volare," which means "to fly." By the end of the 16th century, people were using "volatile" as an adjective for things that were so light they seemed ready to fly. The adjective was soon extended to vapors and gases, and by the early 17th century, "volatile" was being applied to individuals or things as prone to sudden change as some gaseous substances. In recent years, "volatile" has landed in economic, political, and technical contexts far flown from its avian origins.

*Indicates the sense illustrated by the example sentence.