colloidal

American  

[kuh-loid-l] / kəˈlɔɪd l /

adjective

Physical Chemistry.

1. pertaining to or of the nature of a colloid.

   colloidal gold and silver.

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colloidal British  

/ ˌkɒˈlɔɪdəl, ˌkɒlɔɪˈdælɪtɪ /

adjective

1. of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid

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Other Word Forms

• colloidality noun
• colloidally adverb
• noncolloidal adjective
• semicolloidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of colloidal

First recorded in 1860–65; colloid + -al ¹

Example Sentences

The researchers introduced light sensitive molecules known as photoacids into a liquid containing colloidal particles.

From Science Daily • Mar. 2, 2026

To better understand how these structures emerge, researchers often study colloidal particles, which are tiny spheres suspended in liquid that naturally assemble into ordered arrangements known as colloidal crystals.

From Science Daily • Mar. 2, 2026

The research demonstrates the ability to engineer large, space-filling colloidal crystals using simple geometric considerations.

From Science Daily • Jan. 18, 2024

The Love Has Won cult attracted more New Age types, while on the far-right so-called “preppers” and “survivalists” have colloidal silver in their survival kits.

From Salon • Jan. 7, 2024

Coagulation therefore would seem to be merely the colloidal precipitation of a salt of calcium.

From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane