micelle

[ mi-sel ]
/ mɪˈsɛl /

noun

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

OTHER WORDS FROM micelle

mi·cel·lar, adjectivemi·cel·lar·ly, adverb

Words nearby micelle

micaceous, micah, micawber, miccosukee, mice, micelle, mich, mich., michael, michael viii, michael viii palaeologus
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2020

Example sentences from the Web for micellar

British Dictionary definitions for micellar

micelle

micell micella (mɪˈsɛlə)

/ (mɪˈsɛl) /

noun

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

Derived forms of micelle

micellar, adjective

Word Origin for micelle

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