emulsion

[ih-muhl-shuh n] /ɪˈmʌl ʃən/

noun

Physical Chemistry. any colloidal suspension of a liquid in another liquid.

such a suspension used in cosmetics.

Pharmacology. a liquid preparation consisting of two completely immiscible liquids, one of which, as minute globules coated by a gum or other mucilaginous substance, is dispersed throughout the other: used as a means of making a medicine palatable.

Photography. a composition sensitive to some or all of the actinic rays of light, consisting of one or more of the silver halides suspended in gelatin, applied in a thin layer to one surface of a film or the like.

Origin

1605-15; < Neo-Latin ēmulsiōn- (stem of ēmulsiō), equivalent to Latin ēmuls(us) milked out (ē- e-¹ + mulsus, past participle of mulgēre to milk) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms

emulsive, adjective

Examples from the web for emulsion

Butter is basically an emulsion of water in fat, with some dairy solids that help hold them together.
Add the vegetable and olive oils in a slow stream, whisking constantly to form an emulsion.
Garden centers additionally sell organic liquid fertilizers such as fish emulsion and kelp emulsion.
They were a kind of emulsion formed by a combination of water and oil.
After planting, water the bowls regularly and feed weekly with half-strength fish emulsion.
Imagine another emulsion that that garnered so much emotion that songs were written about it.
The heat will cause the photo support and emulsion to expand at different rates.
To counteract the leaching effect of watering, feed plants weekly with fish emulsion.
Four of those neutrinos produced minute but clearly recognizable streaks in the emulsion.
Fertilize at planting time with a spray of fish emulsion.

British Dictionary definitions for emulsion

emulsion

/ɪˈmʌlʃən/

noun

(photog) a light-sensitive coating on a base, such as paper or film, consisting of fine grains of silver bromide suspended in gelatine

(chem) a colloid in which both phases are liquids: an oil-in-water emulsion

Also called emulsion paint. a type of paint in which the pigment is suspended in a vehicle, usually a synthetic resin, that is dispersed in water as an emulsion. It usually gives a mat finish

(pharmacol) a mixture in which an oily medicine is dispersed in another liquid

any liquid resembling milk

Derived Forms

emulsive, adjective

Word Origin

C17: from New Latin ēmulsiō, from Latin ēmulsus milked out, from ēmulgēre to milk out, drain out, from mulgēre to milk

Word Origin and History for emulsion

1610s, from French émulsion (16c.), from Modern Latin emulsionem (nominative emulsio), from emulsus, past participle of emulgere "to milk out," from ex- "out" (see ex-) + mulgere "to milk" (see milk (n.)). Milk is a classic instance of an emulsion, drops of one liquid dispersed throughout another.

emulsion in Medicine

emulsion e·mul·sion (ĭ-mŭl'shən)
n.
A suspension of small globules of one liquid in a second liquid with which the first will not mix.

e·mul'sive adj.

emulsion in Science

emulsion

(ĭ-mŭl'shən)
A suspension of tiny droplets of one liquid in a second liquid. By making an emulsion, one can mix two liquids that ordinarily do not mix well, such as oil and water. Compare aerosol, foam.

emulsify verb