hydrophilic

American  

[hahy-druh-fil-ik] / ˌhaɪ drəˈfɪl ɪk /

adjective

Chemistry.

1. having a strong affinity for water.

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noun

1. soft lens.

hydrophilic British  

/ ˌhaɪdrəʊˈfɪlɪk /

adjective

1. chem tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water Compare hydrophobic

   a hydrophilic colloid

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Usage

What does hydrophilic mean? Describing something as hydrophilic means that it tends to be attracted to water or that it tends to easily dissolve in, mix with, absorb, or be saturated by water.In general, hydrophilic describes things that tend to interact with or be affected by water in some way.Hydrophilic is used in the context of science, especially chemistry, to describe many different substances or chemicals, such as ammonia, ethanol, table salt, and table sugar. Hydrophilic can also appear in a wide range of other fields, such as hydrophilic medicine. In construction or plumbing, some metals and surfaces are described as hydrophilic.

Other Word Forms

• hydrophile noun

Etymology

Origin of hydrophilic

First recorded in 1900–05; hydro- ¹ + -philic

Example Sentences

Water is attracted to the hydrophilic areas and droplets are accumulated and transported through the hydrophobic areas.

From Science Daily

The scientists then adhere the nanoparticles to carbon paper that is hydrophilic, or attracted to water molecules.

From Science Daily

We call them "hydrophilic" or water loving; those are the ones that will make your food taste bad.

From Salon

The hydrophilic ends repel each other, which helps to keep the oil suspended in water.

From Salon

Soap is made of pin-shaped molecules, each of which has a hydrophilic head — it readily bonds with water — and a hydrophobic tail, which shuns water and prefers to link up with oils and fats.

From New York Times