lipophilic
Definition
- Adjective:
- Having an affinity for lipids: Describes a substance or molecule that is attracted to, dissolves in, or can combine with fats, oils, and other lipids (non-polar solvents). It is the opposite of hydrophilic (water-attracting).
Usage Examples
- Adjective:
- Vitamin A is a lipophilic vitamin, which means it is stored in the body's fatty tissues.
- The drug's lipophilic nature allows it to easily cross the cell membrane, which is made of a lipid bilayer.
- Many pesticides are lipophilic, leading to their accumulation in animal fat.
Advanced Usage
- In Pharmacology: Often used to describe a drug's ability to be absorbed and distributed within the body.
- The lipophilic character of the anesthetic ensures rapid onset of action.
- In Chemistry and Biochemistry: Used to describe the partitioning behavior of molecules between aqueous and organic phases.
- In the experiment, the lipophilic dye concentrated in the oil layer.
Variants and Related Words
- Lipophilicity (n): The degree to which a substance is lipophilic; its affinity for lipids.
- The compound's high lipophilicity affects its pharmacokinetics.
- Hydrophobic (adj): While often used interchangeably in casual contexts, "hydrophobic" strictly means "water-repelling," which is a consequence of being lipophilic. A lipophilic substance is typically also hydrophobic.
Synonyms
- Fat-soluble: Capable of dissolving in fats or lipids.
- Non-polar: Having an even distribution of charge, making it more soluble in non-polar solvents like lipids (a key chemical property of lipophilic substances).
Antonyms
- Hydrophilic (adj): Having an affinity for water; water-attracting.
- Lipophobic (adj): Having a lack of affinity for lipids.
Adjective
-
having an affinity for lipids
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