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emulsion

[ ih-muhl-shuh n ]
/ ɪˈmʌl ʃən /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR emulsion ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

Physical Chemistry. any colloidal suspension of a liquid in another liquid.
such a suspension used in cosmetics.
Pharmacology. a liquid preparation consisting of two completely immiscible liquids, one of which, as minute globules coated by a gum or other mucilaginous substance, is dispersed throughout the other: used as a means of making a medicine palatable.
Photography. a composition sensitive to some or all of the actinic rays of light, consisting of one or more of the silver halides suspended in gelatin, applied in a thin layer to one surface of a film or the like.

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Words related to emulsion

varnish, oil, enamel, color, makeup, cosmetic, pigment, wax, dye, stain, latex, acrylic, ointment, paste, jelly, flat, coloring, overlay, rouge, gloss

Words nearby emulsion

emulgent, emulous, emuls., emulsifier, emulsify, emulsion, emulsoid, emunctory, emv, en, en ami

Origin of emulsion

1605–15; < New Latin ēmulsiōn- (stem of ēmulsiō), equivalent to Latin ēmuls(us) milked out (ē- e-1 + mulsus, past participle of mulgēre to milk) + -iōn- -ion

OTHER WORDS FROM emulsion

e·mul·sive, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for emulsion

British Dictionary definitions for emulsion

emulsion
/ (ɪˈmʌlʃən) /

noun

photog a light-sensitive coating on a base, such as paper or film, consisting of fine grains of silver bromide suspended in gelatine
chem a colloid in which both phases are liquidsan oil-in-water emulsion
Also called: emulsion paint a type of paint in which the pigment is suspended in a vehicle, usually a synthetic resin, that is dispersed in water as an emulsion. It usually gives a mat finish
pharmacol a mixture in which an oily medicine is dispersed in another liquid
any liquid resembling milk

Derived forms of emulsion

emulsive, adjective

Word Origin for emulsion

C17: from New Latin ēmulsiō, from Latin ēmulsus milked out, from ēmulgēre to milk out, drain out, from mulgēre to milk
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

Medical definitions for emulsion

emulsion
[ ĭ-mŭl′shən ]

n.

A suspension of small globules of one liquid in a second liquid with which the first will not mix.

Other words from emulsion

e•mul′sive adj.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.

Scientific definitions for emulsion

emulsion
[ ĭ-mŭl′shən ]

A suspension of tiny droplets of one liquid in a second liquid. By making an emulsion, one can mix two liquids that ordinarily do not mix well, such as oil and water. Compare aerosol foam.

Other words from emulsion

emulsify verb
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.