exosmosis

[ ek-sos-moh-sis, ek-soz- ]

/ ˌɛk sɒsˈmoʊ sɪs, ˌɛk sɒz- /

noun

Biology. osmosis toward the outside of a cell or vessel.

Physical Chemistry. the flow of a substance from an area of greater concentration to one of lower concentration (opposed to endosmosis).

Nearby words

exorcist, exorcize, exordium, exoserosis, exoskeleton, exosmosis, exosphere, exospore, exosporium, exostosis, exostosis cartilaginea

Origin of exosmosis

1830–40; Latinization of now obsolete exosmose < French; see ex-², osmosis

Related forms

ex·os·mot·ic

[ek-sos-mot-ik, -soz-] /ˌɛk sɒsˈmɒt ɪk, -sɒz-/, adjectiveex·os·mot·i·cal·ly, adverb

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for exosmosis

exosmosis

/ (ˌɛksɒzˈməʊsɪs, -sɒs-) /

noun

biology osmosis in which water flows from a cell or organism into the surrounding solutionCompare endosmosis

Derived Forms

exosmotic (ˌɛksɒzˈmɒtɪk, -sɒs-) or exosmic (ɛkˈsɒzmɪk, -ˈsɒs-), 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

Medicine definitions for exosmosis

exosmosis

[ ĕk′sŏz-mō′sĭs, -sŏs- ]

n.

The passage of a fluid through a semipermeable membrane toward a solution of lower concentration, especially the passage of water through a cell membrane into the surrounding medium.

Related forms

ex′os•mot′ic (-mŏt′ĭk) adj.