colloid

[ kol-oid ]

noun
  1. Physical Chemistry. a substance made up of a system of particles with linear dimensions in the range of about 10−7 to 5 × 10−5 centimeters dispersed in a continuous gaseous, liquid, or solid medium whose properties depend on the large specific surface area. The particles can be large molecules like proteins, or solid, liquid, or gaseous aggregates and they remain dispersed indefinitely.: Compare aerosol, emulsion, gel, sol4, suspension.

  2. Medicine/Medical. a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion or a cyst.

adjective
  1. Physical Chemistry. colloidal.

Origin of colloid

1
First recorded in 1840–50; from Greek kóll(a) “glue” + -oid

Other words from colloid

  • non·col·loid, noun
  • sem·i·col·loid, noun

Words Nearby colloid

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use colloid in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for colloid

colloid

/ (ˈkɒlɔɪd) /


noun
  1. Also called: colloidal solution, colloidal suspension a mixture having particles of one component, with diameters between 10 –7 and 10 –9 metres, suspended in a continuous phase of another component. The mixture has properties between those of a solution and a fine suspension

  2. the solid suspended phase in such a mixture

  1. obsolete a substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membrane: Compare crystalloid (def. 2)

  2. physiol a gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland

adjective
  1. pathol of or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues

  2. of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid

Origin of colloid

1
C19: from Greek kolla glue + -oid

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for colloid

colloid

[ kŏloid′ ]


  1. A mixture in which very small particles of one substance are distributed evenly throughout another substance. The particles are generally larger than those in a solution, and smaller than those in a suspension. Paints, milk, and fog are colloids. Compare solution suspension.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Cultural definitions for colloid

colloid

[ (kol-oyd) ]


A substance made up of particles that are larger than most molecules; these particles do not actually dissolve in substances but stay suspended in them.

Notes for colloid

Fog, paints, and foam rubber are colloids.

The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.