vitriol

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

vitriol
    n 1: (H2SO4) a highly corrosive acid made from sulfur dioxide;
         widely used in the chemical industry [syn: {vitriol}, {oil
         of vitriol}, {sulfuric acid}, {sulphuric acid}]
    2: abusive or venomous language used to express blame or censure
       or bitter deep-seated ill will [syn: {vituperation},
       {invective}, {vitriol}]
    v 1: expose to the effects of vitriol or injure with vitriol
    2: subject to bitter verbal abuse

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Sulphuric \Sul*phu"ric\, a. [Cf. F. sulfurique.]
   1. Of or pertaining to sulphur; as, a sulphuric smell.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Chem.) Derived from, or containing, sulphur;
      specifically, designating those compounds in which the
      element has a higher valence as contrasted with the
      sulphurous compounds; as, sulphuric acid.
      [1913 Webster]

   {Sulphuric acid}.
      (a) Sulphur trioxide (see under {Sulphur}); -- formerly so
          called on the dualistic theory of salts. [Obs.]
      (b) A heavy, corrosive, oily liquid, {H2SO4}, colorless
          when pure, but usually yellowish or brownish, produced
          by the combined action of sulphur dioxide, oxygen
          (from the air), steam, and nitric fumes. It attacks
          and dissolves many metals and other intractable
          substances, sets free most acids from their salts, and
          is used in the manufacture of hydrochloric and nitric
          acids, of soda, of bleaching powders, etc. It is also
          powerful dehydrating agent, having a strong affinity
          for water, and eating and corroding paper, wood,
          clothing, etc. It is thus used in the manufacture of
          ether, of imitation parchment, and of nitroglycerin.
          It is also used in etching iron, in removing iron
          scale from forgings, in petroleum refining, etc., and
          in general its manufacture is the most important and
          fundamental of all the chemical industries. Formerly
          called {vitriolic acid}, and now popularly {vitriol},
          and {oil of vitriol}.

   {Fuming sulphuric acid}, or {Nordhausen sulphuric acid}. See
      {Disulphuric acid}, under {Disulphuric}.

   {Sulphuric anhydride}, sulphur trioxide. See under {Sulphur}.
      

   {Sulphuric ether}, common anaesthetic ether; -- so called
      because made by the catalytic action of sulphuric acid on
      alcohol. See {Ether}, 3
      (a) .
          [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Vitriol \Vit"ri*ol\, n. [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.]
       [1913 Webster]

   {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}.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Vitriol \Vit"ri*ol\, v. t. [imp. & p. p. {-oled}or {-olled}; p.
   pr. & vb. n. {-oling} or {-olling}.] [From {Vitriol}, n.]
   1. (Metal.) To dip in dilute sulphuric acid; to pickle.
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]

   2. To vitriolize. [Colloq.]
      [Webster 1913 Suppl.]