Hydrophobic: meaning, definitions and examples
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hydrophobic
[ ˌhaɪdrəˈfəʊbɪk ]
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.
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
Word origin
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.