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.

---

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

---

Other Word Forms

• noncapillarity
  noun

Etymology

Origin of capillarity

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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capillarity

The most important of these is the capillarity of the cell surfaces.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 9, Slice 3 "Electrostatics" to "Engis" 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 Tidy, Charles Meymott

Water will rise in clay by capillarity to a height of 50 in., in sand to 22 in.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 8, Slice 6 "Dodwell" to "Drama" by Various

Relation of Soil and Soil Tillage to Farm Crops: Study of subsoils; capillarity in soils; benefits of crop rotations and mulching; experiments in fertilizing, mulching, depth of planting, and closeness of planting.

From Ontario Teachers' Manuals: Nature Study by Ontario. Ministry of Education

Moreover, I must assume as known the chief physical properties of ordinary soils with respect to the phenomena of capillarity, absorption of heat, action of frost, and so forth.

From Disease in Plants by Ward, H. Marshall