[kap-uh-lar-i-tee] 
| Also called capillary action, capillary attraction. Physics. a manifestation of surface tension by which the portion of the surface of a liquid coming in contact with a solid is elevated or depressed, depending on the adhesive or cohesive properties of the liquid. |
| capillary attraction n. The force that results from greater adhesion of a liquid to a solid surface than internal cohesion of the liquid itself and that causes the liquid to be raised against a vertical surface, as water is in a clean glass tube. It is the force that allows a porous material to soak up a liquid. |
capillarity cap·il·lar·i·ty (kāp'ə-lār'ĭ-tē)
n.
The interaction between contacting surfaces of a liquid and a solid that distorts the liquid surface from a planar shape.
capillary attraction n.
A surface force of adhesion that causes fluids to rise along or into solid materials.
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