capillarity

American  

[kap-uh-lar-i-tee, -ler-] / ˌkæp əˈlær ɪ ti, -ˈlɛr- /

noun

1. Also called capillary attraction.  Also called capillary action;.  Physics. a manifestation of surface tension by which the portion of the surface of a liquid coming in contact with a solid is elevated or depressed, depending on the adhesive or cohesive properties of the liquid.

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capillarity British  

/ ˌkæpɪˈlærɪtɪ /

noun

1. Also called: capillary action.  a phenomenon caused by surface tension and resulting in the distortion, elevation, or depression of the surface of a liquid in contact with a solid

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Other Word Forms

• noncapillarity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of capillarity

First recorded in 1820–30; capillary + -ty ²

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capillarity

When the two types of cells differ, will the difference in degree of capillarity regulate the amount of pabulum distributed, or does it depend upon negative and positive pressure?

From Northern Nut Growers Association Report of the Proceedings at the Second Annual Meeting Ithaca, New York, December 14 and 15, 1911 by Northern Nut Growers Association

Gay-Lussac’s earlier researches were mostly physical in character and referred mainly to the properties of gases, vapour-tensions, hygrometry, capillarity, &c.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 11, Slice 5 "Gassendi, Pierre" to "Geocentric" by Various

The first thing I do is to melt the tallow, the melted tallow being drawn up by the capillarity of the wick.

From The Story of a Tinder-box by Charles Meymott Tidy

It must be carefully calibrated, and its internal diameter ascertained, in order that correction may be made for capillarity.

From A Treatise on Meteorological Instruments Explanatory of Their Scientific Principles, Method of Construction, and Practical Utility by Henry Negretti

In its full extension the subject of capillarity is very wide.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 5, Slice 3 "Capefigue" to "Carneades" by Various