Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a strong attraction to water; tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water: A hydrophilic substance has a molecular structure that allows it to interact readily with water molecules, often forming hydrogen bonds.

Usage and Examples

• Adjective:
  • The hydrophilic coating on the lens prevents fogging. (The water-attracting coating on the lens prevents fogging.)
  • Salt is hydrophilic, which is why it dissolves so easily in water. (Salt is water-attracting, which is why it dissolves so easily in water.)
  • This fabric has been treated to be hydrophilic, allowing sweat to spread and evaporate quickly. (This fabric has been treated to be water-attracting, allowing sweat to spread and evaporate quickly.)

Advanced Usage

• Scientific Context: In chemistry and biology, "hydrophilic" describes molecules or parts of molecules (like the head of a phospholipid) that are polar or charged and can form favorable interactions with water.
  • The hydrophilic heads of the phospholipid bilayer face the aqueous environment.
• Contrast with "Hydrophobic": Often used in contrast to its opposite, "hydrophobic" (water-repelling).
  • The molecule has a hydrophilic end and a hydrophobic end.

Variants and Related Words

• Hydrophilicity (noun): The degree or property of being hydrophilic; water-attracting quality.
  • The hydrophilicity of the material determines its absorption rate.
• Hydrophile (noun): A hydrophilic substance or compound.

Synonyms

• Water-attracting
• Water-loving
• Polar (in specific scientific contexts where polarity leads to water affinity)

Antonyms

• Hydrophobic: Repelling or failing to mix with water.

Adjective

1. having a strong affinity for water; tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water