Physical Chemistry. a substance made up of a system of particles with linear dimensions in the range of about 10−7 to 5 × 10−5 cm dispersed in a continuous gaseous, liquid, or solid medium whose properties depend on the large specific surface area. The particles can be large molecules like proteins, or solid, liquid, or gaseous aggregates and they remain dispersed indefinitely.Compare aerosol, emulsion, gel, sol4, suspension.
Medicine/Medical. a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion or a cyst.
Also called: colloidal solution, colloidal suspensiona mixture having particles of one component, with diameters between 10 –7 and 10 –9 metres, suspended in a continuous phase of another component. The mixture has properties between those of a solution and a fine suspension
the solid suspended phase in such a mixture
obsoletea substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membraneCompare crystalloid (def. 2)
physiola gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland
adjective
patholof or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues
of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid
A mixture in which very small particles of one substance are distributed evenly throughout another substance. The particles are generally larger than those in a solution, and smaller than those in a suspension. Paints, milk, and fog are colloids. Compare solutionsuspension.
A substance made up of particles that are larger than most molecules; these particles do not actually dissolve in substances but stay suspended in them.
