ionophore

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noun

Any substance that can transfer ions from a hydrophilic medium (such as water) to a hydrophobic medium, or across a biological membrane, normally by forming a reversible complex with it; an ion carrier

OriginAncient Greek φέρω (phérō) ← Proto-Hellenic *pʰérō ← Proto-Indo-European *bʰéreti →
UncommonScrabble 14
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Meanings

nounionophore (plural ionophores)

plural ionophores

  1. chemistryAny substance that can transfer ions from a hydrophilic medium (such as water) to a hydrophobic medium, or across a biological membrane, normally by forming a reversible complex with it; an ion carrier

Origin

  1. Proto-Indo-European*h₁ey-
  2. Proto-Indo-European*h₁éyti
  3. Proto-Hellenic*éimi
  4. Ancient Greekἰόν (ión)
  5. Englishion
  6. Proto-Indo-European*bʰer-
  7. Proto-Indo-European*bʰéreti
  8. Proto-Hellenic*pʰérō
  9. Ancient Greekφέρω (phérō)
  10. Englishionophore

From ion + -o- + -phore.

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

ionophore. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ionophore

MLA

“ionophore.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ionophore. Accessed November 3, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “ionophore,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/ionophore.

Source: ionophore on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.