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micelle

[mi-sel]
noun
  1. Physical Chemistry. an electrically charged particle formed by an aggregate of molecules and occurring in certain colloidal electrolyte solutions, as those of soaps and detergents.
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Origin of micelle

1880–85; < New Latin mīcella, equivalent to Latin mīc(a) crumb, grain + -ella -elle
Related formsmi·cel·lar, adjectivemi·cel·lar·ly, adverb
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for micellar

Historical Examples

  • The cessation of the stimulus results from a micellar rearrangement which indicates the character of the adaptation.

    A Mechanico-Physiological Theory of Organic Evolution

    Carl Von Ngeli

British Dictionary definitions for micellar

micelle

micell micella (mɪˈsɛlə)

noun
  1. chem
    1. a charged aggregate of molecules of colloidal size in a solution
    2. any molecular aggregate of colloidal size, such as a particle found in coal
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Derived Formsmicellar, adjective

Word Origin

C19: from New Latin micella, diminutive of Latin mīca crumb
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