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hygroscopic

[hahy-gruh-skop-ik]
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adjective
  1. absorbing or attracting moisture from the air.
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Origin of hygroscopic

First recorded in 1765–75; hygroscope + -ic
Related formshy·gro·scop·i·cal·ly, adverbhy·gro·sco·pic·i·ty [hahy-gruh-skoh-pis-i-tee] /ˌhaɪ grə skoʊˈpɪs ɪ ti/, nounnon·hy·gro·scop·ic, adjectivenon·hy·gro·scop·i·cal·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for hygroscopic

Historical Examples

  • The phloroglucide is hygroscopic, and must be weighed out of contact with the air.

    Researches on Cellulose

    C. F. Cross

  • The hygroscopic moisture of the product is lowered from 10-11 p.ct.

  • The author has used hydroscopic in place of hygroscopic throughout.

  • This combination is hygroscopic, anodyne and antiseptic and is easily applied.

    Lameness of the Horse

    John Victor Lacroix

  • When fresh they contain considerable water, and at all times are hygroscopic.

British Dictionary definitions for hygroscopic

hygroscopic

adjective
  1. (of a substance) tending to absorb water from the air
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Derived Formshygroscopically, adverbhygroscopicity (ˌhaɪɡrəskəʊˈpɪsɪtɪ), noun
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

Word Origin and History for hygroscopic

adj.

1775, from hygroscope (1660s), from hygro- + -scope.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
hygroscopic in Medicine

hygroscopic

(hī′grə-skŏp′ĭk)
adj.
  1. Readily absorbing moisture, as from the atmosphere.
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The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
hygroscopic in Science

hygroscopic

[hī′grə-skŏp′ĭk]
  1. Relating to a compound that easily absorbs moisture from the atmosphere.
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The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.