polydisperse

1 of 2

adjective

poly·​dis·​perse ˌpä-lē-di-ˈspərs 

: of, relating to, or characterized by or as particles of varied sizes in the dispersed phase of a disperse system

polydispersity

ˌpä-lē-di-ˈspər-sə-tē 

noun

polydispersity

2 of 2

noun

poly·​dispersity "+ 

: the state of being polydisperse

opalescence is a mark of polydispersity

—J. W. McBain

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

borrowed from German polydispers, from poly- poly- + dispers "dispersed," borrowed from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergere "to spread about, scatter, disperse" — more at disperse

Note: The term was introduced by the German chemist Wolfgang Ostwald (1883-1943) in Grundriss der Kolloidchemie, 2. Auflage, 1. Hälfte (Dresden, 1911), p. 39.

First Known Use

Adjective

1915, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for polydisperse

• monodisperse
• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse
• rehearse

Medical Definition

polydisperse

adjective

poly·​dis·​perse -dis-ˈpərs 

: of, relating to, characterized by, or characterized as particles of varied sizes in the dispersed phase of a disperse system compare monodisperse

polydispersity

-ˈpər-sət-ē 

noun

plural polydispersities