HYDROPHOBIC

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does hydrophobic mean? 

• HYDROPHOBIC (adjective)
  The adjective HYDROPHOBIC has 2 senses:

1. lacking affinity for water; tending to repel and not absorb water; tending not to dissolve in or mix with or be wetted by water

2. abnormally afraid of water

  Familiarity information: HYDROPHOBIC used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HYDROPHOBIC (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Lacking affinity for water; tending to repel and not absorb water; tending not to dissolve in or mix with or be wetted by water

Domain category:

chemical science; chemistry (the science of matter; the branch of the natural sciences dealing with the composition of substances and their properties and reactions)

Antonym:

hydrophilic (having a strong affinity for water; tending to dissolve in, mix with, or be wetted by water)

Derivation:

hydrophobicity (the property of being water-repellent; tending to repel and not absorb water)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Abnormally afraid of water

Synonyms:

aquaphobic; hydrophobic

Similar:

afraid (filled with fear or apprehension)

 Context examples 

Expressed in keratinocytes by human FABP5 Gene (FABP Family), highly conserved 135-aa 15-kDa cytoplasmic Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5 binds long-chain fatty acids with high specificity, and other hydrophobic ligands.

(Fatty Acid Binding Protein 5, NCI Thesaurus)

Fatty acid binding proteins are a family of small, highly conserved, cytoplasmic proteins that bind long-chain fatty acids and other hydrophobic ligands.

(Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 1, NCI Thesaurus)

Disoxaril binds to the hydrophobic pocket within the viral VP1 capsid protein and prevents structural transitions required for viral uncoating resulting in an inhibition of viral reproduction.

(Disoxaril, NCI Thesaurus)

DACH-platin, an active metabolite of the platinum-based antineoplastic agent oxaliplatin, is highly hydrophobic and toxic when administered systemically.

(DACH-Platin Micelle NC-4016, NCI Thesaurus)

Cysteine-rich hydrophobic domain 2 protein (165 aa, ~19 kDa) is encoded by the human CHIC2 gene.

(Cysteine-Rich Hydrophobic Domain 2 Protein, NCI Thesaurus)

Expressed in brain by human FGF20 Gene (FGF Family), 211-aa 23.5-kDa Fibroblast Growth Factor 20 contains a strong hydrophobic region in its FGF core domain and a weak hydrophobic N terminal region.

(Fibroblast Growth Factor 20, NCI Thesaurus)

Cancer cells resistant to a diverse set of hydrophobic drugs are known as MDR cells (multidrug-resistant).

(Multi-Drug Resistance Factor Pathway, NCI Thesaurus/BIOCARTA)

Pure DIM, which is relatively hydrophobic, is poorly absorbed after oral administration.

(Oral Microencapsulated Diindolylmethane, NCI Thesaurus)

Pleconaril binds to a hydrophobic pocket in the major capsid protein and prevents uncoating of the viral RNA genome.

(Pleconaril, NCI Thesaurus)

Stabilizing hydrophobic zinc finger interactions contribute to DNA binding specificity, homodimerization, and interaction with other proteins.

(Nuclear Receptor Gene, NCI Thesaurus)