crystalloid

American  

[kris-tl-oid] / ˈkrɪs tlˌɔɪd /

noun

1. a usually crystallizable substance that, when dissolved in a liquid, will diffuse readily through vegetable or animal membranes.

2. Botany. one of certain minute crystallike granules of protein, found in the tissues of various seeds.

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adjective

1. resembling a crystal.

2. of the nature of a crystalloid.

crystalloid British  

/ ˈkrɪstəˌlɔɪd /

adjective

1. resembling or having the appearance or properties of a crystal or crystalloid

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noun

1. a substance that in solution can pass through a semipermeable membrane Compare colloid

2. botany any of numerous crystals of protein occurring in certain seeds and other storage organs

Other Word Forms

• crystalloidal adjective

Etymology

Origin of crystalloid

From the Greek word krystalloeidḗs, dating back to 1860–65. See crystall-, -oid

Example Sentences

This arises from the fact that the molecules of a colloid are extremely large when compared with those of a crystalloid.

From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane

As2O3, in cases of suspected poisoning, was formerly separated from the stomach in this way, as it is a crystalloid, whereas most of the other contents of the stomach are colloidal.

From An Introduction to Chemical Science by Williams, Rufus Phillips

He proved that a colloidal substance acts towards a crystalloid much as water does; that the crystalloid rapidly diffuses through the colloid, but that colloids are not themselves capable of diffusing through other colloids.

From Heroes of Science Chemists by Muir, M. M. Pattison (Matthew Moncrieff Pattison)

Colloidal solutions diffuse light, unlike crystalloid solutions, which are transparent.

From The Mechanism of Life by Leduc, Stéphane

Cavities can be partly filled with tin and completed with sponge, fibrous, or crystalloid gold, after the manner described for beginning with tin and finishing with gold foil.

From Tin Foil and Its Combinations for Filling Teeth by Ambler, Henry Lovejoy