colloid
[ kol-oid ]
/ ˈkɒl ɔɪd /
noun
Physical Chemistry.
a substance made up of a system of particles with linear dimensions in the range of about 10−7 to 5 × 10−5 cm dispersed in a continuous gaseous, liquid, or solid medium whose properties depend on the large specific surface area. The particles can be large molecules like proteins, or solid, liquid, or gaseous aggregates and they remain dispersed indefinitely.
Compare aerosol, emulsion, gel, sol4, suspension.
Medicine/Medical.
a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion or a cyst.
adjective
Physical Chemistry.
colloidal.
Origin of colloid
1840–50; < Greek
kóll(a) glue +
-oid
OTHER WORDS FROM colloid
non·col·loid, noun sem·i·col·loid, nounWords nearby colloid
Example sentences from the Web for colloid
British Dictionary definitions for colloid
colloid
/ (ˈkɒlɔɪd) /
noun
Also called: colloidal solution, colloidal suspension
a mixture having particles of one component, with diameters between 10 –7 and 10 –9 metres, suspended in a continuous phase of another component. The mixture has properties between those of a solution and a fine suspension
the solid suspended phase in such a mixture
obsolete
a substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membrane
Compare crystalloid (def. 2)
physiol
a gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland
adjective
pathol
of or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues
of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid
Word Origin for colloid
C19: from Greek
kolla glue +
-oid
Medical definitions for colloid
colloid
[ kŏl′oid′ ]
n.
A suspension of finely divided particles in a continuous medium from which the particles do not settle out rapidly and are not readily filtered.
The particulate matter so suspended.
The gelatinous stored secretion of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin.
Gelatinous material resulting from colloid degeneration in diseased tissue.
colloidin
adj.
Of, relating to, containing, or having the nature of a colloid.
Other words from colloid
col•loi′dal (kə-loid′l, kŏ-) adj.Scientific definitions for colloid
colloid
[ kŏl′oid′ ]
A mixture in which very small particles of one substance are distributed evenly throughout another substance. The particles are generally larger than those in a solution, and smaller than those in a suspension. Paints, milk, and fog are colloids. Compare solution suspension.
Cultural definitions for colloid
colloid
[ (kol-oyd) ]
A substance made up of particles that are larger than most molecules; these particles do not actually dissolve in substances but stay suspended in them.
notes for colloid
Fog, paints, and foam rubber are colloids.