Meanings
adjectiveamphiphilic (comparative more amphiphilic, superlative most amphiphilic)
comparative more amphiphilic · superlative most amphiphilic
- chemistryBeing a detergent: having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups.
Sequential living polymerizations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic vinyl ethers from these trifunctional initiators give amphiphilic triarmed block copolymers where the hydrophilic segments may be placed either inner or outer layer of the three arms.
1997, Hatada, Macromolecular Design of Polymeric Materials, →ISBN, page 45 - biochemistryHaving one surface consisting of hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface consisting of hydrophobic (or lipophilic) ones.
Synonyms & antonyms
Also see
Origin
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂ent-
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂énts?
- Proto-Indo-European*h₂m̥bʰi
- Ancient Greekἀμφίς (amphís)
- Englishamphi-
- Englishamphiphilic
Translations
Finnish yhteisliukoinen, amfifiilinen
- yhteisliukoinenhaving both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups
- amfifiilinenhaving both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups
- amfifiilinenhaving one surface consisting of hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface consisting of hydrophobic (or lipophilic) ones
Italian anfifilico, anfifilico
- anfifilicohaving both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups
- anfifilicohaving one surface consisting of hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface consisting of hydrophobic (or lipophilic) ones
Portuguese anfifílico, anfifílico
- anfifílicohaving both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups
- anfifílicohaving one surface consisting of hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface consisting of hydrophobic (or lipophilic) ones
Spanish anfifílico, anfifílico
- anfifílicohaving both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups
- anfifílicohaving one surface consisting of hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface consisting of hydrophobic (or lipophilic) ones
Cite this entry
APA
amphiphilic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphiphilic
MLA
“amphiphilic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphiphilic. Accessed November 4, 2026.
Chicago
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “amphiphilic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/amphiphilic.
Source: amphiphilic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.