hydrophobe
hydrophobe
Noun
pl: hydrophobes
This term is primarily used in technical, scientific, or medical contexts to describe a specific chemical property or biological trait. It carries a neutral, descriptive tone, focusing on the physical or behavioral repulsion of water rather than a psychological fear, though it can occasionally refer to the latter in a clinical sense.
When referring to chemical substances, it is often contrasted with a hydrophile. In biological contexts, it describes an evolutionary adaptation or a pathological state.
Meanings
Related Words
hydrophilewaterrepellenthydrophobiclipidoilfatnonpolarpolaritymoleculesurfacetensionadhesioncohesionwaxlipid bilayermembranecellproteinfoldingsolubilitysolventsoluteaqueoushydrophobicityhydrophilicityamphiphilicsurfactantdetergentmicelleemulsionemulsifierchemistrybiochemistryorganic chemistryhydrophobiarabiesvirusphobiafearaversionrepulsioncontact anglecoatingpolymerteflonsiliconehydrophobic interactionentropyenthalpythermodynamicsintermolecular forcevan der Waals forcehydrogen bonddipolehydrocarbonalkanealkenebenzenesteroidcholesterolphospholipidcytoplasmosmosisdiffusionpermeabilitydenaturationaggregationprecipitation