emulsion
Emulsion (noun) means 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. Example: “Whisk the oil in slowly or the emulsion will split.”
How to Use Emulsion
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTwo liquids that do not mix, beaten together so tiny drops of one hang in the other.
The chemical and cookery senses are international; the paint sense is British, where Americans say latex paint.
The verb is emulsify, and the ingredient that holds the mixture together is an emulsifier.
Trace the full origin ↓Fill the Gap
Can you complete this real example?
Whisk the oil in slowly or the _____ will split.
Etymology
From Latin emulgere "to milk out", because the earliest emulsions resembled milk.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for 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.