Also called capillary action, capillary attraction. Physics. a manifestation of surface tension by which the portion of the surface of a liquid coming in contact with a solid is elevated or depressed, depending on the adhesive or cohesive properties of the liquid.
They are enable to do so by the permeability of the cane in one direction, and by its capillarity.
In the unsaturated zone, density effects should be less significant due to the mitigating effects of capillarity.
Experimental and theoretical investigations of multiphase capillarity.
Small amounts of oil in the produced water can block pores because of capillarity effects.
As the heterogeneity of the aquifer increases, capillarity begins to dominate the intrinsic instability of a buoyant displacement.
The interstices either are not filled with water or are filled with water that is no held by capillarity.
British Dictionary definitions for capillarity
capillarity
/ˌkæpɪˈlærɪtɪ/
noun
1.
a phenomenon caused by surface tension and resulting in the distortion, elevation, or depression of the surface of a liquid in contact with a solid Also called capillary action
Word Origin and History for capillarity
n.
1806, from French capillarité, from Latin capillaris (see capillary).
capillarity in Medicine
capillarity cap·il·lar·i·ty (kāp'ə-lār'ĭ-tē) n. The interaction between contacting surfaces of a liquid and a solid that distorts the liquid surface from a planar shape.