colloid

American  

[kol-oid] / ˈkɒl ɔɪd /

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 centimeters 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.

2. Medicine/Medical. a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion or a cyst.

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adjective

1. Physical Chemistry. colloidal.

colloid British  

/ ˈkɒlɔɪd /

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 membrane Compare crystalloid

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

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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

colloid Scientific  

/ 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.

2. Compare solution suspension

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colloid Cultural  

1. 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.

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Discover More

Fog, paints, and foam rubber are colloids.

Other Word Forms

• noncolloid noun
• semicolloid noun

Etymology

Origin of colloid

First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek kóll(a) “glue” + -oid

Example Sentences

The GFR is influenced by hydrostatic pressure and colloid osmotic pressure.

From Textbooks

A colloid cyst was found during a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work and McCall later said she was given the all clear after MRI scans.

From BBC

There, lysosomal enzymes break apart the thyroglobulin colloid, releasing free T3 and T4, which diffuse across the follicle cell membrane and enter the bloodstream.

From Textbooks

The particles of a colloid remain dispersed and do not settle due to gravity,

From Textbooks

The 57-year-old former Big Brother host revealed in November that a colloid cyst had been found during a health check-up as part of her menopause advocacy work.

From BBC