collodion

noun

col·​lo·​di·​on kə-ˈlō-dē-ən How to pronounce collodion (audio)
: a viscous solution of pyroxylin used especially as a coating for wounds or for photographic films

Examples of collodion in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The components of collodion were gun cotton, ether, and alcohol. Anika Burgess july 17, Literary Hub, 17 July 2025 Great Britain at the advent of the photographic medium and using a collodion wet plate process, Cameron took long exposure portraits of people and children. Seth Combs, San Diego Union-Tribune, 16 Apr. 2023 Hyatt mixed this collodion with camphor (derived from the camphor tree) and found that the product was strong yet moldable. Matt Simon, WIRED, 27 Oct. 2022 The next hot new technology, wet-plate collodion emulsions, was not much better; the plates would dry out during the long exposures required to capture faint astronomical objects. H.j. McCracken, Ars Technica, 13 Sep. 2022 See All Example Sentences for collodion

Word History

Etymology

modification of New Latin collodium, from Greek kollōdēs glutinous, from kolla glue — more at protocol

First Known Use

1851, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of collodion was in 1851

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Collodion.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/collodion. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

Medical Definition

collodion

noun
col·​lo·​di·​on kə-ˈlōd-ē-ən How to pronounce collodion (audio)
: a viscous solution of pyroxylin used especially as a coating for wounds or for photographic films

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