hydrophane

[ hahy-druh-feyn ]

/ ˈhaɪ drəˌfeɪn /

noun

a partly translucent variety of opal, which becomes more translucent or transparent when immersed in water.

Nearby words

hydropathy, hydropericarditis, hydropericardium, hydroperitoneum, hydroperoxide, hydrophane, hydrophanous, hydrophilia, hydrophilic, hydrophilous, hydrophobe

Origin of hydrophane

First recorded in 1775–85; hydro-¹ + -phane

Related formshy·droph·a·nous

[hahy-drof-uh-nuh s] /haɪˈdrɒf ə nəs/, adjective

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

Examples from the Web for hydrophane

It was milk-white, and became translucent in water, like that beautiful variety of opal, the hydrophane.
White Shadows in the South Seas|Frederick O'Brien

British Dictionary definitions for hydrophane

hydrophane

/ (ˈhaɪdrəʊˌfeɪn) /

noun

a white partially opaque variety of opal that becomes translucent in water

Derived Formshydrophanous (haɪˈdrɒfənəs), 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