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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.

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

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

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

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.