Meanings
comparative more lyophilic · superlative most lyophilic
- chemistryHaving an affinity for the dispersion medium and thus not easily precipitated.
In second sub-group, the “emulsion-colloids” or “lyophilic colloids,” the properties of the solvent are considerably influenced. The internal friction, surface tension, and other properties of the liquid show great changes even when only a small proportion of matter is in colloidal solution.
1908, Journal of the Society of Chemical Industry,, volume 27, page 935Synonyms: lyophile
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectiveHaving an affinity for the dispersion medium and thus not easily precipitated.
Origin
- Latin-icus
- Ancient Greekλύω“to loosen, to dissolve”
- Englishlyophilic
US, c. 1908; compare earlier lyophilize (1894). lyo- (“solvent, dispersion”) + -philic (“having affinity for”), from Ancient Greek λύω (lúō, “to loosen, to dissolve”) + φίλος (phílos, “beloved”) + Latin -icus.
More words from Ancient Greek, Latin
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Polish liofilny
- liofilnyhaving an affinity for the dispersion medium and thus not easily precipitated
Tagalog danumhigumin
- danumhiguminhaving an affinity for the dispersion medium and thus not easily precipitated
Cite this entry
lyophilic. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lyophilic
“lyophilic.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lyophilic. Accessed November 4, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “lyophilic,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/lyophilic.
Source: lyophilic on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.