hydrophane

[ hahy-druh-feyn ]
/ ˈhaɪ drəˌfeɪn /

noun

a partly translucent variety of opal, which becomes more translucent or transparent when immersed in water.

Origin of hydrophane

First recorded in 1775–85; hydro-1 + -phane

OTHER WORDS FROM hydrophane

hy·droph·a·nous [hahy-drof-uh-nuh s] /haɪˈdrɒf ə nəs/, adjective

Words nearby hydrophane

hydropathy, hydropericarditis, hydropericardium, hydroperitoneum, hydroperoxide, hydrophane, hydrophilia, hydrophilic, hydrophilous, hydrophobe, hydrophobia

Example sentences from the Web for hydrophane

  • It was milk-white, and became translucent in water, like that beautiful variety of opal, the hydrophane.

    White Shadows in the South Seas |Frederick O'Brien

British Dictionary definitions for hydrophane

hydrophane
/ (ˈhaɪdrəʊˌfeɪn) /

noun

a white partially opaque variety of opal that becomes translucent in water

Derived forms of hydrophane

hydrophanous (haɪˈdrɒfənəs), adjective