hydrophobic
Meaning
Having a strong dislike or fear of water.
(Chemistry) Tending to repel or fail to mix with water.
Structure
Usage
The hydrophobic coating on the fabric causes water to bead up and roll off.
Many animals with fur have a natural hydrophobic layer that keeps them dry.
In biology, the tails of phospholipid molecules are hydrophobic, directing them to cluster away from water.
Etymology
The word hydrophobic is a modern scientific compound built directly from ancient Greek elements. The first element, hydro-, originates from the Proto-Indo-European root wed- meaning "water," which evolved into Greek hydōr. The second element, -phobic, derives from Greek phobos, meaning "fear" or "flight," itself from the PIE root bhegw- meaning "to run." Literally meaning "water-fearing," the term was first used in the 17th century to describe a pathological aversion to water. In the 20th century, chemistry adopted the term to describe the physical property of molecules that repel water, a logical extension from the psychological "fear" to a physicochemical "aversion."
Analysis
- hydro: From Greek hydōr (water). A combining form meaning "water" in scientific terms. - phob: From Greek phobos (fear, flight). A combining form meaning "fear of" or "aversion to". - ic: From Latin -icus, Greek -ikos. An adjective-forming suffix meaning "of, pertaining to, or characteristic of".