Dictionary.com
definitions
  • synonyms

colloid

[kol-oid]
See more synonyms for colloid on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. 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.
  2. Medicine/Medical. a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion or a cyst.
Show More
adjective
  1. Physical Chemistry. colloidal.
Show More

Origin of colloid

1840–50; < Greek kóll(a) glue + -oid
Related formsnon·col·loid, nounsem·i·col·loid, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for colloid

Historical Examples

  • Captain Purnall wrenches open the colloid to talk with him man to man.

    With The Night Mail

    Rudyard Kipling

  • Then the Sun rises and through the colloid strikes out our lamps.

    With The Night Mail

    Rudyard Kipling

  • Yet another phenomenon of colloid chemistry is concerned, viz.

    Animal Proteins

    Hugh Garner Bennett

  • All of the coats of the stomach are converted into the colloid growth.

  • "It would have to be a colloid, too, capable of suspension in the atmosphere," said Ken.

British Dictionary definitions for colloid

colloid

noun
  1. Also called: colloidal solution, colloidal suspension a 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
  2. the solid suspended phase in such a mixture
  3. obsolete a substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membraneCompare crystalloid (def. 2)
  4. physiol a gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland
Show More
adjective
  1. pathol of or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues
  2. of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid
Show More

Word Origin

C19: from Greek kolla glue + -oid
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

Word Origin and History for colloid

n.

1847, from French colloide (1845), from Greek kolla "glue" + -oeides "form" (see -oid).

Show More
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
colloid in Medicine

colloid

(kŏl′oid′)
n.
  1. A suspension of finely divided particles in a continuous medium from which the particles do not settle out rapidly and are not readily filtered.
  2. The particulate matter so suspended.
  3. The gelatinous stored secretion of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin.
  4. Gelatinous material resulting from colloid degeneration in diseased tissue.colloidin
Show More
adj.
  1. Of, relating to, containing, or having the nature of a colloid.
Show More
Related formscol•loi′dal (kə-loid′l, kŏ-) adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
colloid in Science

colloid

[kŏl′oid′]
  1. 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 solution suspension.
Show More
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
colloid in Culture

colloid

[(kol-oyd)]

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.

Show More

Note

Fog, paints, and foam rubber are colloids.
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.