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Glite Dictionary
hydrocolloid

hydrocolloid

1 9.2
A material that becomes a gel when mixed with water
  • noun
  • /ˌhaɪdrəˈkɒlɔɪd/
  • Specialized
: hidrocoloide
  • The doctor recommended a hydrocolloid dressing for my wound because it helps create a moist healing environment.
  • functional hydrocolloid

The hydrocolloid pimple patches have been a lifesaver for me recently.

Examples

  • And again, hydrocolloids, these, these polymers, they need water to start to do their work.

  • The hydrocolloid pimple patches have been a lifesaver for me recently.

    Lauren Curtis

  • However, Agar has an extremely interesting property that it shares with a couple of other famous hydrocolloids like gelan.

  • A hydrocolloid is used in many food products to improve texture and stability when mixed with water.

  • Products containing hydrocolloid materials are often found in skin care as they form a gel to hydrate and protect the skin.

How Gel-Like

hydrocolloid
  • Specialized
1 9.2
colloid
  • Specialized
1 7.7
solution
  • Specialized
78 3.0

Surface Forms

hydrocolloid singular
hydrocolloids plural

Morphology

hydrocolloid = colloid (semi-transparent) = hydro + colloid

The word is clearly built from 'hydro-' plus 'colloid', but the specialized scientific meaning is not fully predictable for an average learner.

Etymology

Hydrocolloid combines hydro- meaning 'water', as in the word hydrant, and colloid from a Greek word for 'glue'. So a hydrocolloid is a glue-like substance that forms a gel when mixed with water, which explains its use as a food thickener and in moist wound dressings.