emulsion
5 synonyms for emulsion, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
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
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
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.”
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.”
How to use emulsion
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
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 →