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hydrophobic

adjective hy·dro·pho·bic \ ˌhī-drə-ˈfō-bik \
Updated on: 24 Apr 2018
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Definition of hydrophobic

1 : of, relating to, or suffering from hydrophobia
2 : lacking affinity for water
—

hydrophobicity

play \ˌhī-drə-fō-ˈbi-sə-tē\ noun

Recent Examples of hydrophobic from the Web

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'hydrophobic.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of hydrophobic

1807

in the meaning defined at sense 1

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Medical Dictionary

hydrophobic

adjective hy·dro·pho·bic \ -ˈfō-bik \

medical Definition of hydrophobic

1 : of, relating to, or suffering from hydrophobia
2 : resistant to or avoiding wetting
  • a hydrophobic lens
3 : of, relating to, or having a lack of affinity for water
  • hydrophobic colloids are relatively unstable
— compare lyophobic, oleophobic
—

hydrophobically

play \-bi-k(ə-)lē\ adverb
—

hydrophobicity

play \-ˌfō-ˈbis-ət-ē\ noun, plural -ties

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