Lyophile

Part of speech: noun, adjective

Definitions

1. A substance that has a strong affinity for and readily absorbs liquid, especially one that dissolves easily in a solvent
2. A material or compound that attracts and takes up liquid readily, particularly in colloidal or solution-based systems
3. A substance characterized by its tendency to be wetted and to absorb liquids with relative ease

Etymology: "Lyophile" is a technical coinage from chemistry, and its history is mostly a matter of its building blocks. The first part, "lyo-", comes from Greek "lyein", meaning "to loosen" or "to dissolve," and the second, "-phile", comes from Greek "philos", meaning "loving" or "friendly toward." Put together, the term describes a substance that is readily dissolved or dispersed by a liquid, a sort of chemical affinity for the solvent. The word appeared around 1900 in the United States, and it may have been influenced by the French "lyophile," which carries the same sense as "lyophilic." Its formation follows the same pattern as the many other scientific terms built on Greek roots during that period, when chemists were rapidly naming new concepts about colloids and solutions.

Antonyms: lyophobe