- a substance made up of a system of particles with linear dimensions in the range of about 10−7 to 5 × 10−5 centimeters dispersed in a continuous gaseous, liquid, or solid medium whose properties depend on the large specific surface area. The particles can be large molecules like proteins, or solid, liquid, or gaseous aggregates and they remain dispersed indefinitely.
- a colloidal substance in the body, as a stored secretion or a cyst.
- a mixture having particles of one component, with diameters between 10 –7 and 10 –9 metres, suspended in a continuous phase of another component. The mixture has properties between those of a solution and a fine suspension
- the solid suspended phase in such a mixture
- a substance that in solution does not penetrate a semipermeable membrane
- a gelatinous substance of the thyroid follicles that holds the hormonal secretions of the thyroid gland
- of or relating to the gluelike translucent material found in certain degenerating tissues
- of, denoting, or having the character of a colloid
