hydrophily
|hy-dro-phi-ly|
🇺🇸
/haɪˈdroʊfɪli/
🇬🇧
/haɪˈdrɒfɪli/
affinity for water
Etymology
'hydrophily' originates from Greek, specifically the elements 'hydro-' and 'philia', where 'hydro-' meant 'water' and 'philia' meant 'love' or 'affinity'.
'hydrophily' was formed in English as a scientific coinage from Greek roots via New/Neo-Latin formations such as 'hydrophilia' and came into use in botanical and biological contexts to name the condition or process.
Initially it meant 'affinity for water' in a general sense, but it has also become used more specifically to denote 'pollination by water' in botanical terminology.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Noun 1
pollination by water; the transfer of pollen between flowers mediated by water (occurs in some aquatic plants).
Hydrophily is the main pollination mechanism in some seagrasses such as Zostera.
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Noun 2
affinity for or attraction to water; hydrophilicity (the tendency of a substance or organism to interact with or be attracted to water).
The hydrophily of the polymer increased its solubility in aqueous solutions.
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Last updated: 2025/10/15 13:59