col·loid

(kŏl′oid′)

1. Chemistry

a. A system in which finely divided particles, which are approximately 1 to 1,000 millimicrons in size, are dispersed within a continuous medium in a manner that prevents them from being filtered easily or settled rapidly.

b. The particulate matter so dispersed.

2. The gelatinous stored secretion of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin.

3. Gelatinous material resulting from 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.

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

colloid

(ˈkɒlɔɪd)

1. (Chemistry) Also called: colloidal solution or 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. (Chemistry) the solid suspended phase in such a mixture

3. (Chemistry) obsolete a substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membrane. Compare crystalloid²

4. (Physiology) physiol a gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland

adj

5. (Pathology) pathol of or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues

6. (Chemistry) of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid

[C19: from Greek kolla glue + -oid]

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

col•loid

(ˈkɒl ɔɪd)

n.

1. a substance made up of small particles (too small to be seen under an optical microscope, yet too big to pass through a semipermeable membrane) that are suspended in and dispersed throughout a solid, liquid, or gaseous medium.

2. a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion.

adj.

3. colloidal.

[1840–50; < Greek kóll(a) glue + -oid]

col·loid

(kŏl′oid′)

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 examples of colloids. Compare solution, suspension.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

colloid

A substance made of very small particles whose size (1-100 nm) is between those of a suspension and those in solution.

ThesaurusAntonymsRelated WordsSynonymsLegend:

Noun

colloid - a mixture with properties between those of a solution and fine suspension

silver protein - a colloid preparation of protein (albumin or gelatin) and silver oxide; used in aqueous solution as an antibacterial agent

mixture - (chemistry) a substance consisting of two or more substances mixed together (not in fixed proportions and not with chemical bonding)

dispersed particles, dispersed phase - (of colloids) a substance in the colloidal state

dispersing medium, dispersing phase, dispersion medium - (of colloids) a substance in which another is colloidally dispersed

colloidal gel, gel - a colloid in a more solid form than a sol

colloidal solution, colloidal suspension, sol - a colloid that has a continuous liquid phase in which a solid is suspended in a liquid

emulsion - (chemistry) a colloid in which both phases are liquids; "an oil-in-water emulsion"

silica gel - a porous form of silica that is highly absorbent

Translations

colloïde

colloide

колларгол коллоид коллоидная система коллоидный раствор

col·loid

n. coloide, sustancia gelatinosa producida por ciertas formas de degeneración de los tejidos.

colloid

n coloide m

Mentioned in

References in classic literature

Captain Hodgson opens the great colloid underbody porthole through which I watch over-lighted London slide eastward as the gale gets hold of us.

The bow colloid is unshuttered and Captain Purnall, one hand on the wheel, is feeling for a fair slant.

"162's" Limit is low on account of the small size of her nine screws, which, though handier than the old colloid Thelussons, "bell" sooner.

The jointed U-tubes of the vacuum-chamber are pressure-tempered colloid (no glass would endure the strain for an instant) and a junior engineer with tinted spectacles watches the Ray intently.

Captain Purnall wrenches open the colloid to talk with him man to man.

Can you hold it?" Captain Purnall overlooks all insults, and leans half out of the colloid, staring and snuffing.

Her underbody colloid is open land her transporter-slings hang down like tentacles.

Captain Hodgson opens the underbody colloid, swings the heavy pithing-iron out of its rack which in liners is generally cased as a smoking-room settee, and at two hundred feet releases the catch.

He leans forward in his belt, eyes glued to the colloid, and one ear cocked toward the General Communicator.

He opened the colloid in that heavenly stillness and mopped his face.

I was squinting through a colloid before you were out of your cradle, my son."

View in context

Lloyd's discovery of the "death bacillus" of the sea toad, and his experiments on it with potassium cyanide, sent his name and that of his university ringing round the world; nor was Paul a whit behind when he succeeded in producing laboratory colloids exhibiting amoeba-like activities, and when he cast new light upon the processes of fertilization through his startling experiments with simple sodium chlorides and magnesium solutions on low forms of marine life.

View in context