semipermeable

[ sem-ee-pur-mee-uh-buhl, sem-ahy- ]

adjective

1. permeable only to certain small molecules:

   a semipermeable membrane.

semipermeable

/ ˌsɛmɪˈpɜːmɪəbəl /

adjective

1. (esp of a cell membrane) selectively permeable

Derived Forms

• ˌsemiˌpermeaˈbility, noun

Other Words From

• semi·perme·a·bili·ty noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of semipermeable¹

First recorded in 1895–1900; semi- + permeable

Example Sentences

Water has to be pushed through a semipermeable membrane that blocks the salt and other impurities from going through.

From The Daily Beast

They are semi-colloidal, passing slowly through semipermeable membranes.

From Project Gutenberg

Similarly the diffusion of sols through "semipermeable" membranes is affected by lyotrope influence.

From Project Gutenberg