hydrophobic
Definition
- Adjective:
- Abnormally afraid of water: Having an extreme, irrational, or pathological fear of water.
- Lacking affinity for water; tending to repel and not absorb water: Describing a substance or surface that does not interact favorably with water molecules, causing water to bead up rather than spread out or be absorbed.
Usage Examples
Adjective (Fear of Water):
- The hydrophobic patient experienced severe anxiety at the sight of a swimming pool.
- After the traumatic incident, the dog became hydrophobic and would avoid puddles.
Adjective (Repelling Water):
- The leaves of the lotus plant are hydrophobic, causing water to form perfect droplets and roll off.
- A hydrophobic coating was applied to the fabric to make it water-resistant.
Advanced Usage
- In Chemistry/Biology: Used to describe nonpolar molecules or molecular regions that do not form hydrogen bonds with water and are energetically unfavorable in an aqueous environment.
- The hydrophobic tails of phospholipids face inward in the cell membrane's bilayer.
- In Materials Science: Describes engineered surfaces designed to repel liquids.
- Researchers are developing super-hydrophobic materials for self-cleaning windows.
Variants and Related Words
- Hydrophobicity (n): The property of being hydrophobic; the degree to which a substance repels water.
- The hydrophobicity of the surface was measured by the contact angle of the water droplet.
- Hydrophobe (n): A hydrophobic substance or molecule.
- Oil is a common hydrophobe.
Synonyms
- Water-repellent: Resistant to penetration by water (for materials).
- Aquaphobic: Having a fear of water (clinical synonym for the phobia).
- Non-wetting: Not easily wetted by a liquid.
Antonyms
- Hydrophilic (adj): Having an affinity for water; tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water.
- Cotton is a hydrophilic material that absorbs water easily.
Adjective
-
abnormally afraid of water
-
lacking affinity for water; tending to repel and not absorb water; tending not to dissolve in or mix with or be wetted by water
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