polydisperse

adjective

poly·​dis·​perse ˌpä-lē-di-ˈspərs How to pronounce polydisperse (audio)
: of, relating to, or characterized by or as particles of varied sizes in the dispersed phase of a disperse system
polydispersity
ˌpä-lē-di-ˈspər-sə-tē How to pronounce polydisperse (audio)
noun

Word History

Etymology

borrowed from German polydispers, from poly- poly- + dispers "dispersed," borrowed from Latin dispersus, past participle of dispergere "to spread about, scatter, disperse" — more at disperse

Note: The term was introduced by the German chemist Wolfgang Ostwald (1883-1943) in Grundriss der Kolloidchemie, 2. Auflage, 1. Hälfte (Dresden, 1911), p. 39.

First Known Use

1915, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of polydisperse was in 1915

Dictionary Entries Near polydisperse

polydisk

polydisperse

polydomous

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Polydisperse.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/polydisperse. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.

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Medical Definition

polydisperse

adjective
poly·​dis·​perse -dis-ˈpərs How to pronounce polydisperse (audio)
: of, relating to, characterized by, or characterized as particles of varied sizes in the dispersed phase of a disperse system compare monodisperse
polydispersity
-ˈpər-sət-ē How to pronounce polydisperse (audio)
noun
plural polydispersities
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