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8.4
To treat food or wood with a gas to stop it going bad and keep color
  • verb
  • /ˈsʌlfər/
  • Specialized
translation icon : azufrar
  • The peaches were carefully sulfured before being stored for the winter.

Examples

  • The packers sulfur the dried apricots to maintain their bright color.

  • Many wineries sulfur the barrels before use to prevent spoilage.

  • Don't forget to sulfur the apples before storing them!

  • They sulfurized the grapes to prevent spoilage.

  • Many wineries sulfur the barrels before use to prevent spoilage.

  • The packers sulfur the dried apricots to maintain their bright color.

  • Don't forget to sulfur the apples before storing them!

Synonyms

to sulfite
vsto sulfur
  • Specialized
8.1

To add a chemical to food and drink to keep it fresh

is based on exposure to a preservative gas rather than adding those chemicals
to sulfurette
vsto sulfur
  • Archaic
9.9

To treat materials with sulfur during a chemical process

is used mainly to preserve food and prevent discoloration rather than general chemical treatment

Compounds

sulfur dioxide
  • Specialized
7 4.5

A colorless gas with a strong bad smell that harms breathing and pollutes the air

1 5.3

A mine where workers dig sulfur from the ground

sulfur hexafluoride
  • Specialized
6.5

A colorless, odorless gas used to insulate electrical equipment and a strong greenhouse gas

sulfur hexafluoride
  • Specialized
4.9

A gas used in tiny bubbles to make ultrasound images clearer

9.9

A poisonous chemical used in war that causes severe blisters and eye and lung damage

sulfur bacteria
  • Specialized
5.4

Bacteria that get energy by changing sulfur or its compounds

8.1

A very large blue-grey whale that migrates in southern oceans

A small flying insect with wide yellow or orange wings

sulfur oxide
  • Specialized
5.3

Compounds made of sulfur and oxygen, often gases that pollute air like sulfur dioxide

A plant with ragged clusters of pale yellow flowers in moist high meadows

5.1

A bright pale yellow like a lemon or an egg yolk

Surface Forms

sulfur infinitive
sulfurized past
sulfurized past participle
sulfurizing present participle
sulfurizes third person singular

Etymology

Sulfur as a verb comes from the noun sulfur, so to 'sulfur' something is to treat it with sulfur to preserve it or stop it from losing color. That is why winemakers and fruit packers 'sulfur' barrels and dried fruit to keep them safe and bright.