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Glite Dictionary
polyvinylpyrrolidone

polyvinylpyrrolidone

1 9.9
A white powder that binds and thickens medicines and cosmetics
  • noun
  • /ˌpɒliˌvaɪnəlˈpɪrəˌlɪdoʊn/
  • Specialized
: polivinilpirrolidona
  • The tablet contains polyvinylpyrrolidone as a binding agent.

Examples

  • Many cosmetics use polyvinylpyrrolidone to help maintain their texture and stability.

  • Researchers tested the effectiveness of polyvinylpyrrolidone in delivering certain medications.

  • Researchers are studying polyvinylpyrrolidone for its potential in drug delivery systems.

  • The cosmetic product contains polyvinylpyrrolidone as a thickening agent.

  • The tablet contains polyvinylpyrrolidone as a binding agent.

  • Many cosmetics use polyvinylpyrrolidone to help maintain their texture and stability.

  • The cosmetic product contains polyvinylpyrrolidone as a thickening agent.

Synonyms

polysorbate
vspolyvinylpyrrolidone
  • Specialized
1 7.9

A chemical that helps mix ingredients and stops them from separating in food and cosmetics

binds particles and thickens liquids instead of mainly mixing ingredients

Surface Forms

polyvinylpyrrolidone singular
polyvinylpyrrolidones plural

Morphology

polyvinylpyrrolidone = vinylpyrrolidone (opaque) = poly + vinyl + pyrrolidone

The word is formally built from the prefix 'poly-' plus the chemical base 'vinylpyrrolidone', but the term is highly technical and not recoverable for an average B1 learner from the parts alone.

Etymology

Polyvinylpyrrolidone breaks into three parts: poly- meaning 'many' (as in polygons), vinyl (think of vinyl records or flooring) and pyrrolidone meaning 'a small chemical ring' used in chemistry. So, polyvinylpyrrolidone is a long molecule made of many repeating vinyl-pyrrolidone parts, and that structure is why it can bind, stabilize, or thicken medicines and cosmetics.