Word
hydrophobic
Phoneticshy·dropho·bic
UK/hˌaɪdɹəfˈəʊbɪk/
Definition
adj. describing a substance that repels water. If you put oil on water, the oil stays on top because it is hydrophobic.
adj. having an aversion to water or being unable to mix with it. Often describes materials or surfaces that cause water to bead and roll off rather than being absorbed.
Examples
“The wax on the car is hydrophobic.”
“Scientists are developing hydrophobic coatings for medical equipment to prevent the spread of bacteria.”
“The hydrophobic properties of the polymer allow it to remain dry even when submerged in a high-pressure water stream, making it ideal for underwater robotics.”
Examples
simple
“The wax on the car is hydrophobic.”
contextual
“Scientists are developing hydrophobic coatings for medical equipment to prevent the spread of bacteria.”
complex
“The hydrophobic properties of the polymer allow it to remain dry even when submerged in a high-pressure water stream, making it ideal for underwater robotics.”
Real-World Examples
Common in science writing
“Each lipid contains a hydrophilic (water-attracting) head and a hydrophobic (water-repelling) tail.” “But because these sugars are hydrophilic (water-loving), the hydrophobic cell membrane prevents them from passing through.” Etymology
From hydrophobia + -ic.
From hydrophobe + -ic.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Domains
Scan code
englishreference.com/q/hydrophobic