hydrophobic

[ hahy-druh-foh-bik ]

adjective

1. of or relating to hydrophobia.
2. Chemistry. having little or no affinity for water.

Other Words From

• hy·dro·pho·bic·i·ty [hahy-dr, uh, -foh-, bis, -i-tee], noun
• nonhy·dro·phobic adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of hydrophobic¹

First recorded in 1640–50; hydrophobe + -ic

Example Sentences

Desert beetles and lizards, for example, have evolved to develop surface structures that have both hydrophilic and hydrophobic areas and effectively capture moisture from the air.

From Science Daily

In their study published in Cell Reports Physical Science, the researchers also tried to understand the specific interactions that occur between hydrophobic components and proteins and their impact on protein aggregation.

From Science Daily

But in a counterintuitive twist, the very mechanism that enables hydrophobic surfaces to deflect water droplets also leads to the shearing effect outlined in Backholm's paper.

From Science Daily

This can be covalent bonds, hydrogen bridge bonds, van der Waals forces, and hydrophobic interactions.

From Science Daily

The engineered protein, resembling a structure with five arms, exhibits a unique feature -- a hydrophobic pore within its coiled-coil configuration.

From Science Daily