hydrophobic Definition
- 1tending to repel or fail to mix with water
- 2relating to or suffering from hydrophobia
Using hydrophobic: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "hydrophobic" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The hydrophobic coating on the surface of the leaves prevents water from sticking to them.
Example
The hydrophobic nature of the material makes it ideal for use in waterproof clothing.
Example
The hydrophobic effect is caused by the nonpolar nature of the molecules.
hydrophobic Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for hydrophobic
- nonpolar
- lipophilic
- water-repellent
- water-resistant
Antonyms for hydrophobic
- hydrophilic
- water-loving
Phrases with hydrophobic
the tendency of nonpolar molecules to cluster together in an aqueous solution, driven by the exclusion of water molecules from the nonpolar surface
Example
The hydrophobic interaction between the lipid tails forms the basis of the cell membrane structure.
an amino acid that has a nonpolar side chain and tends to be buried within the protein core away from water
Example
Leucine and valine are examples of hydrophobic amino acids.
the thermodynamic phenomenon where nonpolar molecules aggregate in water due to the increase in entropy of the surrounding water molecules
Example
The hydrophobic effect drives the folding of proteins into their native structures.
Summary: hydrophobic in Brief
The term 'hydrophobic' [ˌhaɪdrəʊˈfəʊbɪk] refers to substances or molecules that repel or do not mix with water. It is often used in the context of waterproof materials or coatings, as well as in scientific fields such as biochemistry and materials science. Examples include 'The hydrophobic coating on the surface of the leaves prevents water from sticking to them.' and 'The hydrophobic effect is caused by the nonpolar nature of the molecules.'
