colloid

noun

col·​loid ˈkä-ˌlȯid 

1

: a gelatinous or mucinous substance found normally in the thyroid and also in diseased tissue

2

a

: a substance that consists of particles dispersed throughout another substance which are too small for resolution (see resolution sense 6a) with an ordinary light microscope but are incapable of passing through a semipermeable membrane

b

: a mixture consisting of a colloid together with the medium in which it is dispersed

smoke is a colloid

colloidal

kə-ˈlȯi-dᵊl 

kä-

adjective

colloidally adverb

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web

Cocoa powder mixed in with your milk is a colloid—a type of mixture in which solid particles are dispersed throughout a fluid. —Mai Nguyen, Discover Magazine, 14 Dec. 2015

Ice cream is a colloid, or a solution that is comprised of two insoluble materials with one dispersed throughout the other. —Ashton Yoon, Discover Magazine, 1 Aug. 2017

The idea is to use a colloid of (at least) two types of nanoparticles (A and B) contained in a reservoir. —Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 20 May 2022

In the colloidal memory system, shown below, liquid (e.g., water) can be used as the volumetric storage medium and dissolved nanoparticles (the colloid) as carriers of the data symbols. —Tom Coughlin, Forbes, 20 May 2022

Cave underwent emergency surgery Tuesday, a removal of a colloid cyst that was causing pressure on his brain. —CBS News, 11 Apr. 2020

Following the incident, Hall was taken to a hospital, where doctors found a colloid cyst on his brain. —Nick Vadala, Philly.com, 8 Jan. 2018

Cargo aboard the Space X Dragon resupply mission will include NASA Glenn Research Center experiments on colloids that are 1/100th the diameter of human hair. —Sabrina Eaton, cleveland.com, 15 Dec. 2017

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Word History

Etymology

International Scientific Vocabulary coll- + -oid

First Known Use

circa 1852, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

colloid

noun

col·​loid ˈkäl-ˌȯid 

: a very finely divided substance which is scattered throughout another substance

also : a mixture consisting of such a substance together with the substance in which it is scattered (as in smoke, gelatin, or marshmallow)

colloidal

kə-ˈlȯid-ᵊl 

kä-

adjective

Medical Definition

colloid

noun

col·​loid ˈkäl-ˌȯid 

1

: a gelatinous or mucinous substance found in tissues in disease or normally (as in the thyroid)

2

a

: a substance consisting of particles that are dispersed throughout another substance and are too small for resolution with an ordinary light microscope but are incapable of passing through a semipermeable membrane

b

: a mixture (as smoke) consisting of a colloid together with the medium in which it is dispersed

colloidal

kə-ˈlȯid-ᵊl, kä- 

adjective

colloidally

-ᵊl-ē 

adverb