colloid

[kol-oid] /ˈkɒl ɔɪd/
noun
1.
Physical Chemistry. a substance made up of a system of particles with linear dimensions in the range of about 10 −7 to 5 × 10 −5 cm dispersed in a continuous gaseous, liquid, or solid medium whose properties depend on the large specific surface area. The particles can be large molecules like proteins, or solid, liquid, or gaseous aggregates and they remain dispersed indefinitely.
Compare aerosol, emulsion, gel, sol4 , suspension.
2.
Medicine/Medical. a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion or a cyst.
adjective
3.
Physical Chemistry, colloidal.
Origin
1840-50; < Greek kóll(a) glue + -oid
Related forms
noncolloid, noun
semicolloid, noun
Examples from the web for colloid
  • colloid nodular goiters are also known as endemic goiters.
  • Vesicles containing colloid have been described as occurring in the parathyroid, but the observation has not been confirmed.
British Dictionary definitions for colloid

colloid

/ˈkɒlɔɪd/
noun
1.
Also called colloidal solution, colloidal suspension. a mixture having particles of one component, with diameters between 10–7 and 10–9 metres, suspended in a continuous phase of another component. The mixture has properties between those of a solution and a fine suspension
2.
the solid suspended phase in such a mixture
3.
(obsolete) a substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membrane Compare crystalloid (sense 2)
4.
(physiol) a gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland
adjective
5.
(pathol) of or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues
6.
of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid
Word Origin
C19: from Greek kolla glue + -oid
Word Origin and History for colloid
n.

1847, from French colloide (1845), from Greek kolla "glue" + -oeides "form" (see -oid).

colloid in Medicine

colloid col·loid (kŏl'oid')
n.

  1. A suspension of finely divided particles in a continuous medium from which the particles do not settle out rapidly and are not readily filtered.

  2. The particulate matter so suspended.

  3. The gelatinous stored secretion of the thyroid gland, consisting mainly of thyroglobulin.

  4. Gelatinous material resulting from colloid degeneration in diseased tissue. Also called colloidin.

adj.
Of, relating to, containing, or having the nature of a colloid.
col·loi'dal (kə-loid'l, kŏ-) adj.
colloid in Science
colloid
(kŏl'oid')
A mixture in which very small particles of one substance are distributed evenly throughout another substance. The particles are generally larger than those in a solution, and smaller than those in a suspension. Paints, milk, and fog are colloids. Compare solution, suspension.

colloid in Culture
colloid [(kol-oyd)]

A substance made up of particles that are larger than most molecules; these particles do not actually dissolve in substances but stay suspended in them.

Note: Fog, paints, and foam rubber are colloids.