emulsion

What is the opposite of emulsion? Here is what we hold, with its meaning and related words.

Noun — A mixture in which tiny droplets of one liquid are spread evenly through another liquid that would not normally blend with it, such as oil in water.

Synonyms by Meaning

1. noun

A mixture in which tiny droplets of one liquid are spread evenly through another liquid that would not normally blend with it, such as oil in water.

“Whisk the oil in slowly or the emulsion will split.”

suspension colloid mixture

2. noun chiefly British

A water-based paint with a matt or soft sheen finish, used mainly on interior walls and ceilings.

“Two coats of white emulsion covered the old wallpaper.”

wall paint latex paint

How to use emulsion

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

stable emulsion oil-in-water emulsion the emulsion splits matt emulsion

The chemical and cookery senses are international; the paint sense is British, where Americans say latex paint.

Etymology

From Latin emulgere "to milk out", because the earliest emulsions resembled milk.

Full origin of emulsion →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between emulsion and gloss paint?

Emulsion is water-based, dries quickly to a matt or slightly sheened finish and is used on walls and ceilings. Gloss is harder-wearing and shiny, and is used on woodwork and metal such as skirting boards and door frames.

Is mayonnaise an emulsion?

Yes. It is oil droplets held in a small amount of water-based liquid from the egg yolk and vinegar, with lecithin in the yolk acting as the emulsifier that stops the two separating.

What makes an emulsion split?

Adding the oil too fast, mixing too little, or a big temperature change can let the droplets merge back together into a separate layer. Whisking a fresh yolk or a spoonful of the broken sauce into a new base often rescues it.

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suspension mixture colloid

Nearby words

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