capillarity
noun
cap·il·lar·i·ty
ˌka-pə-ˈler-ə-tē 
-ˈla-rə-
plural capillarities
1
: the property or state of being capillary
2
: the action by which the surface of a liquid where it is in contact with a solid (as in a capillary tube) is elevated or depressed depending on the relative attraction of the molecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid
Examples of capillarity in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
But 18 species of hummingbirds did, eventually, feed at the transparent flowers, and the cameras saw a mechanism very different than capillarity at work.
—
K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2015
Because of this pair of tiny tubes, many biologists assumed that nectar just flowed up the tubes thanks to a passive process called capillarity.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2015
The results obtained suggest that oil is migrating through pores and cracks in the solid structure driven by capillarity within seconds.
—Elsbeth Sites, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2015
Plants transport nutrients from their roots up to the highest branches using capillarity, the inspiration for microfluidic circuits that are autonomously powered.
—Albert Folch, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2021
The trouble was that the amount of nectar consumption predicted by the capillarity model didn’t always match what biologists saw hummingbirds doing in the wild.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2015
But dispersion is caused by its capillarity — the surface tension effect that makes some liquids rise in straws.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 July 2015
In most fluids, capillarity is negligible compared to viscosity.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 July 2015
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2015
Because of this pair of tiny tubes, many biologists assumed that nectar just flowed up the tubes thanks to a passive process called capillarity.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2015
The results obtained suggest that oil is migrating through pores and cracks in the solid structure driven by capillarity within seconds.
—Elsbeth Sites, Discover Magazine, 6 Oct. 2015
Plants transport nutrients from their roots up to the highest branches using capillarity, the inspiration for microfluidic circuits that are autonomously powered.
—Albert Folch, Discover Magazine, 19 May 2021
The trouble was that the amount of nectar consumption predicted by the capillarity model didn’t always match what biologists saw hummingbirds doing in the wild.
—K. N. Smith, Discover Magazine, 19 Aug. 2015
But dispersion is caused by its capillarity — the surface tension effect that makes some liquids rise in straws.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 July 2015
In most fluids, capillarity is negligible compared to viscosity.
—Quanta Magazine, 21 July 2015
Dictionary Entries Near capillarity
Cite this Entry
“Capillarity.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/capillarity. Accessed 22 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
capillarity
noun
cap·il·lar·i·ty
ˌkap-ə-ˈlar-ət-ē
: the action by which the surface of a liquid where (as in a slender tube) it is in contact with a solid is raised or lowered depending upon how much the molecules of the liquid are attracted to one another and to those of the solid
Medical Definition
capillarity
noun
cap·il·lar·i·ty
ˌkap-ə-ˈlar-ət-ē
plural capillarities
: the action by which the surface of a liquid where it is in contact with a solid (as in a capillary tube) is elevated or depressed depending on the relative attraction of the molecules of the liquid for each other and for those of the solid
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share