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volatile

volatile

adjective noun voh-LAH-tee-leh Rare

Origin: From Latin 'volatilis' (flying).

Also means

fleeting

Usage Note

Volatile is an adjective meaning liable to evaporate quickly (chemistry) or unstable/unpredictable (mercato volatile — volatile market). As a masculine noun it means a bird or winged creature (i volatili — birds/fowl) — a literary or zoological usage. The plural of the adjective is volatili (m/f); for the noun volatili is standard.

Examples

"I prezzi del petrolio sono molto volatili."

Natural Translation

Oil prices are very volatile.

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