micelle

[ mi-sel ]

noun

1. Physical Chemistry. an electrically charged particle formed by an aggregate of molecules and occurring in certain colloidal electrolyte solutions, as those of soaps and detergents.

micelle

/ mɪˈsɛl; mɪˈsɛlə /

noun

1. chem
   1. a charged aggregate of molecules of colloidal size in a solution
   2. any molecular aggregate of colloidal size, such as a particle found in coal

Derived Forms

• miˈcellar, adjective

Other Words From

• mi·cellar adjective
• mi·cellar·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of micelle¹

1880–85; < New Latin mīcella, equivalent to Latin mīc ( a ) crumb, grain + -ella -elle

Word History and Origins

Origin of micelle¹

C19: from New Latin micella, diminutive of Latin mīca crumb

Example Sentences

"The concept of the micelle may be new for the electrolyte, but it's actually very common for our daily life," Qi said.

From Science Daily

If a micelle was a petal, the assembly was the flower.

From Washington Post

By introducing a cobalt complex into the core and a rhodium complex into the outer shell, the micelle can catalyse two reactions to transform alkynes into chiral alcohols.

From Scientific American

When the green blinks off and the red blinks on, the micelle glows red.

From Scientific American

The soap does this because it acts as bridge between the water and what is being cleaned away, by binding them and wrapping them into those micelle structures.

From Science Daily