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 Word Forms

• amphiphilic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of amphiphile¹

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