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hypergolic

[ hahy-per-gaw-lik, -gol-ik ]
/ ˌhaɪ pərˈgɔ lɪk, -ˈgɒl ɪk /

adjective

(especially of rocket-fuel propellant constituents) igniting spontaneously upon contact with a complementary substance.

Nearby words

  1. hyperglycinuria,
  2. hyperglycogenolysis,
  3. hyperglycorrhachia,
  4. hyperglycosuria,
  5. hypergol,
  6. hypergonadism,
  7. hypergonadotropic,
  8. hypergonadotropic eunuchoidism,
  9. hyperhemoglobinemia,
  10. hyperhidrosis

Origin of hypergolic

First recorded in 1945–50; hyp(er)- + erg- + -ol2 + -ic
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for hypergolic

hypergolic

/ (ˌhaɪpəˈɡɒlɪk) /

adjective

(of a rocket fuel) able to ignite spontaneously on contact with an oxidizer

Word Origin for hypergolic

C20: from German Hypergol (perhaps from hyp (er-) + erg 1 + -ol ²) + -ic
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

Science definitions for hypergolic

hypergolic

[ hī′pər-gŏl′ĭk ]

Relating to or using a rocket propellant consisting of liquid fuel and an oxidizer that ignite spontaneously on contact.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.