nucleophilic

[ noo-klee-uh-fil-ik, nyoo- ]

adjectiveChemistry.
  1. of or relating to electron contribution in covalent bonding (opposed to electrophilic).

Origin of nucleophilic

1
First recorded in 1930–35; nucleo- + -philic

Other words from nucleophilic

  • nu·cle·o·phile [noo-klee-uh-fahyl, nyoo-], /ˈnu kli əˌfaɪl, ˈnyu-/, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for nucleophilic

nucleophilic

/ (ˌnjuːklɪəʊˈfɪlɪk) /


adjective
  1. chem having or involving an affinity for positive charge. Nucleophilic reagents (nucleophiles) are molecules, atoms, and ions that behave as electron donors: Compare electrophilic

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