Peptizes

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. Disperses a solid precipitate into a stable colloidal suspension by adding a chemical agent that causes its particles to separate
2. Breaks up clumped solid matter into fine particles suspended in a liquid through the action of a special chemical additive
3. Converts a coagulated mass into a colloid by introducing an agent that makes its particles repel one another and spread apart

Etymology: "Peptizes" is the third-person singular present form of "peptize," a verb meaning to cause a substance to disperse into a colloid, typically by adding a chemical agent that breaks a precipitate into fine particles suspended in a liquid. The verb itself is built on the Greek "peptein," meaning "to cook" or "to digest," a sense that survives in the medical term "peptic." Its use is confined to chemistry, where the pairing of "peptize" with the older sense of digestion reflects a shared idea: both describe the breaking down of a material into smaller, more manageable parts.