| ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷|filik adjective
also hy·dro·phile ˈ ̷ ̷ ̷ ̷ˌfīl
Etymology: hydrophilic from New Latin hydrophil us water-loving + English -ic; hydrophile from New Latin hydrophilus
: of, relating to, or having a strong affinity for water
hydrophilic colloids swell in water and are relatively stable
: readily wet by water
cotton is a hydrophilic fiber
— opposed to hydrophobic ; compare hygroscopic , lipophilic , lyophilic , organophilic