amphiphile

[ am-fuh-fahyl ]

noun

, Biochemistry.

1. any of many organic compounds, as a surfactant, detergent, bile salt, or phospholipid, composed of both hydrophilic and hydrophobic portions.

Other Words From

• am·phi·phil·ic [am-f, uh, -, fil, -ik], adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphiphile¹

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