Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

amphiphilic

Word Rarity Very rare

Frequency: 1.61 in modern English

Syllables: am-phiphilic
IPA

25

Scrabble Score

11

Letters

2

Syllables

7

Unique Chars

Meaning

adj

Being a detergent: having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups.

adj

Having one surface consisting of hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface consisting of hydrophobic (or lipophilic) ones.

Example Sentences

"Sequential living polymerizations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic vinyl ethers from these trifunctional initiators give amphiphilic triarmed block copolymers where the hydrophilic segments may be placed either inner or outer layer of the three arms."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts? Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi Ancient Greek ἀμφίς (amphís)lbor. English amphi- English -philic English amphiphilic From amphi- + -philic.

Inflected Forms

more amphiphilic (comparative) most amphiphilic (superlative)

Derived Forms

amphiphilically amphiphilicity nonamphiphilic

Frequently Paired Words

amphipathic amphiphobic amphiprotic amphoteric surfactant

Questions

What does amphiphilic mean?: Being a detergent: having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups.
Where does amphiphilic come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *h₂ent- Proto-Indo-European *-s Proto-Indo-European *h₂énts? Proto-Indo-European *h₂m̥bʰi Ancient Greek ἀμφίς (amphís)lbor. English amphi- English -philic English amphiphilic From amphi- + -philic.

How to pronounce amphiphilic

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