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hydrophane

[ hahy-druh-feyn ]

noun

  1. a partly translucent variety of opal, which becomes more translucent or transparent when immersed in water.


hydrophane

/ ˈhaɪdrəʊˌfeɪn; haɪˈdrɒfənəs /

noun

  1. a white partially opaque variety of opal that becomes translucent in water
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Derived Forms

  • hydrophanous, adjective
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Other Words From

  • hy·droph·a·nous [hahy-, drof, -, uh, -n, uh, s], adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrophane1

First recorded in 1775–85; hydro- 1 + -phane ( def )
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Example Sentences

Hydrophane, hī′dro-fān, n. a partly translucent variety of opal which becomes transparent when wetted.—adj.

A fine quality of quartz amethyst has been obtained, and also hydrophane, known for its peculiar property of becoming transparent when immersed in water.

Thus the deportment of various minerals, such as hydrophane and tabasheer, the transparency of tracing paper used by engineers, and many other considerations of the highest scientific interest, are involved in the simple enquiry of this unsuspecting little boy.

The fifth variety in order of value, is that known as the "hydrophane," which has an interesting characteristic in becoming transparent when immersed in water, and only then.

It was milk-white, and became translucent in water, like that beautiful variety of opal, the hydrophane.

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hydroperoxidehydrophilic