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Hydrophobic: meaning, definitions and examples

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hydrophobic

 

[ ˌhaɪdrəˈfəʊbɪk ]

Adjective
Context #1 | Adjective

chemistry

Tending to repel or fail to mix with water. Hydrophobic molecules are usually nonpolar and do not dissolve in water.

Synonyms

nonpolar, water repellent

Examples of usage

  • Hydrophobic substances such as oil do not mix with water.
  • Hydrophobic interactions play a crucial role in protein folding.
Context #2 | Adjective

biology

Relating to, tending to repel, or not mix well with water. Hydrophobic surfaces resist wetting.

Synonyms

lipophilic, water repellent

Examples of usage

  • The lotus leaf has a hydrophobic surface that causes water droplets to bead up.
  • Hydrophobicity in cell membranes helps maintain cell structure.

Translations

Translations of the word "hydrophobic" in other languages:

🇵🇹 hidrofóbico

🇮🇳 जल-अभीरु (jal-abhīru)

🇩🇪 hydrophob

🇮🇩 hidrofobik

🇺🇦 гідрофобний

🇵🇱 hydrofobowy

🇯🇵 疎水性 (sosuisei)

🇫🇷 hydrophobe

🇪🇸 hidrofóbico

🇹🇷 hidrofobik

🇰🇷 소수성의 (sosuseong-ui)

🇸🇦 كاره للماء (karh lilma')

🇨🇿 hydrofobní

🇸🇰 hydrofóbny

🇨🇳 疏水性 (shūshuǐxìng)

🇸🇮 hidrofoben

🇮🇸 vatnsfælið

🇰🇿 гидрофобты

🇬🇪 ჰიდროფობული (hidrophobuli)

🇦🇿 hidrofob

🇲🇽 hidrofóbico

Etymology

The term 'hydrophobic' originated from the combination of 'hydro' (water) and 'phobia' (fear). It was first used in the mid-20th century to describe substances that repel water. The concept of hydrophobicity has since been widely studied in fields such as chemistry, biology, and materials science.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,728, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.