semipermeable

American  

[sem-ee-pur-mee-uh-buhl, sem-ahy-] / ˌsɛm iˈpɜr mi ə bəl, ˌsɛm aɪ- /

adjective

1. permeable only to certain small molecules.

   a semipermeable membrane.

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semipermeable British  

/ ˌsɛmɪˈpɜːmɪəbəl /

adjective

1. (esp of a cell membrane) selectively permeable

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Other Word Forms

• semipermeability noun

Etymology

Origin of semipermeable

First recorded in 1895–1900; semi- + permeable

Example Sentences

Researchers in ACS Energy Letters report creating a semipermeable membrane that harvests osmotic energy from salt gradients and converts it to electricity.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

So, Dongdong Ye, Xingzhen Qin and colleagues designed a semipermeable membrane from environmentally friendly materials that would theoretically minimize internal resistance and maximize output power.

From Science Daily • Apr. 24, 2024

Producing outstanding kimchi requires a Goldilocks situation, Kim says: fermentation vessels need to be semipermeable rather than overly permeable or impermeable.

From Scientific American • May 16, 2023

Many producers simply remove the alcohol from normal wines by forcing the liquid through semipermeable membranes, spinning it, or boiling off most of the alcoholic components.

From Washington Post • Jan. 23, 2023

I am glad to have a semipermeable memory after getting into this.

From "The Lives of a Cell" by Lewis Thomas