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Showing results for amphipathic. Search instead for amphipathy.

amphipathic

American  
[am-fuh-path-ik] / ˌæm fəˈpæθ ɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

  1. an uncommon variant of amphiphilic.

amphipathic British  
/ ˈæmfɪˌpæθ, ˌæmfɪˈpæθɪk /

adjective

  1. chem biochem of or relating to a molecule that possesses both hydrophobic and hydrophilic elements, such as are found in detergents, or phospholipids of biological membranes

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of amphipathic

First recorded in 1970–75; amphi- + -pathic

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Bile contains bile salts, which are amphipathic, meaning they contain hydrophobic and hydrophilic parts.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

A phospholipid is an amphipathic molecule, meaning it has a hydrophobic and a hydrophilic part.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

As a result, phospholipids are considered amphipathic because they have both hydrophobic and hydrophilic components.

From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022

In fact, soap works to remove oil and grease stains because it has amphipathic properties.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

An amphipathic molecule is one that contains both a hydrophilic and a hydrophobic region.

From Textbooks • Jun. 19, 2013

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.