amphiphilic

adjective

am·​phi·​phil·​ic ˌam(p)-fə-ˈfi-lik 

: of, relating to, or being a compound (such as a surfactant) consisting of molecules having a polar water-soluble group attached to a water-insoluble hydrocarbon chain

also : being a molecule of such a compound

amphiphile

ˈam(p)-fə-ˌfī(-ə)l 

noun

Examples of amphiphilic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Emulsifiers like mustard or egg yolk are amphiphilic, as are some chemicals used as part of soap. —Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 6 May 2023

There are, of course, conventional emulsions that are mixtures of unmixable liquids that are stabilized by some amphiphilic (not quite hydrophobic, not quite hydrophilic) substance. —IEEE Spectrum, 16 Mar. 2022

Our ever-present, super-affordable, totally amphiphilic friend SOAP is here to save us all. —Heather Arndt Anderson, Sunset Magazine, 12 Mar. 2020

This is called the fermentation process, whereby lactose in the milk is converted to lactic acid, which lowers the pH. When the pH drops below pH 5, micelles of caseins, which are amphiphilic proteins, loses its tertiary structure due to the protonation of its amino acid residues. —Ashton Yoon, Discover Magazine, 4 July 2017

Word History

Etymology

amphi- + -philic

First Known Use

1948, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for amphiphilic

• basophilic
• carboxylic
• hydrophilic
• lipophilic
• mesophilic
• neutrophilic
• thermophilic
• acidophilic
• dicarboxylic
• electrophilic
• nucleophilic
• tricarboxylic

Medical Definition

amphiphilic

adjective

am·​phi·​phil·​ic ˌam-fə-ˈfil-ik 

: of, relating to, consisting of, or being one or more molecules (as of a glycolipid or sphingolipid) in a biological membrane having a polar water-soluble terminal group attached to a water-insoluble hydrocarbon chain

amphiphile

ˈam-fə-ˌfīl 

noun