colloid definition | Dictionary.com

col⋅loid

[kol-oid]

–noun

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 cm 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, sol ⁴ , suspension.

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

–adjective

3.	Physical Chemistry. colloidal.

Origin:
1840–50; < Gk kóll(a) glue + -oid

Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.
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col·loid (kŏl'oid') Pronunciation Key
n.

Chemistry
1. A system in which finely divided particles, which are approximately 10 to 10,000 angstroms in size, are dispersed within a continuous medium in a manner that prevents them from being filtered easily or settled rapidly.
2. The particulate matter so dispersed.
Physiology The gelatinous product of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin, which serves as the precursor and storage form of thyroid hormone.
Pathology Gelatinous material resulting from colloid degeneration in diseased tissue.

adj. Of, relating to, containing, or having the nature of a colloid.
col·loi'dal (kə-loid'l, kŏ-) adj., col·loi'dal·ly adv.

The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2006 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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colloid

1847, from Fr. colloide (1845), from Gk. kolla "glue" + -eides "form."

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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colloid
noun
a mixture with properties between those of a solution and fine suspension

WordNet® 3.0, © 2006 by Princeton University.
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colloid (kŏl'oid') Pronunciation Key

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 © 2002 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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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.

Note: Fog, paints, and foam rubber are colloids.

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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colloid col·loid (kŏl'oid')
n.

A suspension of finely divided particles in a continuous medium from which the particles do not settle out rapidly and are not readily filtered.
The particulate matter so suspended.
The gelatinous stored secretion of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin.
Gelatinous material resulting from colloid degeneration in diseased tissue. Also called colloidin.

adj.
Of, relating to, containing, or having the nature of a colloid.

col·loi'dal (kə-loid'l, kŏ-) adj.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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Main Entry: col·loid
Pronunciation: 'käl-"oid
Function: noun
1 : a gelatinous or mucinous substance found in tissues in disease ornormally (as in the thyroid)
2 a : a substance consisting of particles that are dispersed throughout another substance and are too small for resolution with an ordinary lightmicroscope but are incapable of passing through a semipermeable membrane b : a mixture (as smoke) consisting of a colloid together with the medium in which it is dispersed —col·loi·dal /k&-'loid-^&l, kä-/ adjective —col·loi·dal·ly /-^&l-E/ adverb

Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Colloid

Col"loid\, a. [Gr. ko`lla glue + -oid. Cf. Collodion.] Resembling glue or jelly; characterized by a jellylike appearance; gelatinous; as, colloid tumors.

Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Colloid

Col"loid\, n. 1. (Physiol. Chem.) A substance (as albumin, gum, gelatin, etc.) which is of a gelatinous rather than a crystalline nature, and which diffuses itself through animal membranes or vegetable parchment more slowly than crystalloids do; -- opposed to crystalloid.

2. (Med.) A gelatinous substance found in colloid degeneration and colloid cancer.

Styptic colloid (Med.), a preparation of astringent and antiseptic substances with some colloid material, as collodion, for ready use.