colloid

[kol-oid]

noun

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.

adjective

Physical Chemistry. colloidal.

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. 2019

Examples from the Web for colloid

Historical Examples of colloid

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.
A System of Practical Medicine By American Authors, Vol. II
Various
"It would have to be a colloid, too, capable of suspension in the atmosphere," said Ken.
The Year When Stardust Fell
Raymond F. Jones

British Dictionary definitions for colloid

colloid

noun

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

the solid suspended phase in such a mixture

obsolete a substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membraneCompare crystalloid (def. 2)

physiol a gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland

adjective

pathol of or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues

of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid

Word Origin for colloid

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

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

colloid in Medicine

colloid

[kŏl′oid′]

n.

A suspension of finely divided particles in a continuous medium from which the particles do not settle out rapidly and are not readily filtered.

The particulate matter so suspended.

The gelatinous stored secretion of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin.

Gelatinous material resulting from colloid degeneration in diseased tissue.colloidin

adj.

Of, relating to, containing, or having the nature of a colloid.

Related formscol•loi′dal (kə-loid′l, kŏ-) adj.

colloid in Science

colloid

[kŏl′oid′]

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.

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.

Note

Fog, paints, and foam rubber are colloids.