electrophoresis

[ ih-lek-troh-fuh-ree-sis ]

/ ɪˌlɛk troʊ fəˈri sɪs /

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noun

Also called cataphoresis. Physical Chemistry. the motion of colloidal particles suspended in a fluid medium, due to the influence of an electric field on the medium.

Biology. this technique, applied to sorting proteins according to their responses to an electric field.

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Compare gel electrophoresis.

Origin of electrophoresis

1910–15; electro- + Greek phórēsis a being borne; see -phore, -sis

OTHER WORDS FROM electrophoresis

e·lec·tro·pho·ret·ic

[ih-lek-troh-fuh-ret-ik], /ɪˌlɛk troʊ fəˈrɛt ɪk/, adjective

Words nearby electrophoresis

electro-osmosis, electropalatography, electrophilic, electrophone, electrophorese, electrophoresis, electrophorus, electrophotography, electrophysiology, electroplaque, electroplate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for electrophoresis

electrophoresis

/ (ɪˌlɛktrəʊfəˈriːsɪs) /

noun

the motion of charged particles in a colloid under the influence of an applied electric fieldAlso called: cataphoresis

Derived forms of electrophoresis

electrophoretic (ɪˌlɛktrəʊfəˈrɛtɪk), adjective

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

Scientific definitions for electrophoresis

electrophoresis

[ ĭ-lĕk′trō-fə-rē′sĭs ]

The migration of electrically charged molecules through a fluid or gel under the influence of an electric field. Electrophoresis is used especially to separate combinations of compounds, such as fragments of DNA, for the purpose of studying their components.