micelle

noun/maɪˈsɛl/

Frequency rank: #19,852 most common English word

Meaning

A microscopic spherical cluster formed by surfactant molecules in a liquid, with hydrophobic tails pointing inward and hydrophilic heads facing outward.

Illustration for the English word “micelle”

Example sentence

When soap is added to water, the molecules arrange themselves into micelle structures that trap grease inside.

Synonyms & related words

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