| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|fōbik also -|fäb- adjective
Etymology: Late Latin hydrophobicus characterized by hydrophobia, from Greek hydrophobikos, from hydrophobia + -ikos -ic
1. : of, relating to, or suffering from hydrophobia
2. : resistant to or avoiding wetting
most insects have hydrophobic cuticle
3. also hydrophobe
[ hydrophobe from Late Latin hydrophobus having hydrophobia, from Greek hydrophobos ]
a. : of, relating to, or having a lack of affinity for water
hydrophobic colloids are relatively unstable
b. : not readily wet by water
nylon is a hydrophobic fiber
— opposed to hydrophilic ; compare lipophilic , lyophobic
• hy·dro·pho·bic·i·ty ˌhīdrəfōˈbisəd.ē noun -es