electrophoresis

noun

elec·​tro·​pho·​re·​sis i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈrē-səs 

: the movement of suspended particles through a medium (such as paper or gel) under the action of an electromotive force applied to electrodes in contact with the suspension

electrophorese

i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈrēs 

-ˈrēz

transitive verb

electrophoretic

i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈre-tik 

adjective

electrophoretically

i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈre-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of electrophoresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new devices, an organic electronic ion pump custom designed for the anatomy of rats, is based on the principle of electrophoresis: the transport of molecules through a fluid or gel under the influence of an electric field. —IEEE Spectrum, 8 May 2015

Gel electrophoresis uses an electrical field to separate out the molecules of DNA and the florescent stain in the gel allows the results to be viewed under a black light. —Kendra MacK, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2023

The most common blood test is hemoglobin electrophoresis, in which electrical currents are passed through a blood sample, separating different types of hemoglobin into discrete bands. —Krithika Varagur, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023

Back in her lab, Watsa analyzes the sample using a small electrophoresis device that’s connected to a smartphone. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Dec. 2022

Rather than use electrophoresis, Righetti opted to try a more powerful technique called mass spectrometry. —Jo Marchant, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2022

These fragments were then placed in a gel and separated by electrophoresis, the application of an electric charge. —Fortune, 14 June 2018

The test uses a process called capillary electrophoresis to separate a liquid into its independent components. —Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, 27 Jan. 2017

His invention, called gel electrophoresis, is in wide use today. —Denise Gellene, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2017

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Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing electrophoresis

• gel electrophoresis
• capillary electrophoresis

• gel electrophoresis
• capillary electrophoresis

Medical Definition

electrophoresis

noun

elec·​tro·​pho·​re·​sis -trə-fə-ˈrē-səs 

plural electrophoreses -ˌsēz 

: the movement of suspended particles through a fluid or gel under the action of an electromotive force applied to electrodes in contact with the suspension

called also cataphoresis

electrophoretic

-ˈret-ik 

adjective

electrophoretically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb