swellable
Able to enlarge
Swellable describes materials capable of absorbing liquid and expanding in volume.
The term appears mainly in technical contexts—pharmaceuticals, chemistry, and materials science: swellable polymers, swellable clay.
A swellable tablet might expand in the stomach to release medication slowly or create a feeling of fullness.
Tending to absorb water
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- soakSaturate with liquid
- saturateSoak to full capacity
- osmosisSolvent crossing semipermeable barrier
porous · permeable · wicking · sponge · capillary · infiltrate · seepage · drench
Fill with gas
- dilateWiden or expand
- distendEnlarge by pressure within
- bloatSwell abnormally
- engorgeFill to distension
puff · balloon · stretch · enlarge · widen · broaden · volumetric · bulge
Water-swollen polymer structure
- polymerLarge repeated-unit molecule
- clayMoldable earth for ceramics
- starchComplex plant carbohydrate
- cellulosePlant wall polysaccharide
silicone · rubber · gel · resin · elastomer · bentonite · pectin · alginate
Abnormal tissue mass
- cystFluid-filled tissue sac
- edemaPathological tissue puffiness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
- hypertrophyTissue enlargement via cells
lymph · gland · tissue · blister · abscess · hematoma · joint · mucosa
What prompts a reaction
- biocompatibleAccepted by living tissue
- triggerWhat initiates action
- actuatorDevice producing controlled motion
- self-healingAble to repair itself
hydrophilic
Tending to absorb water
- absorptionProcess of taking in
- soakSaturate with liquid
- saturateSoak to full capacity
osmosis · porous · permeable · wicking · sponge · capillary · infiltrate · seepage · drench · retentive
inflate
Fill with gas
engorge · puff · balloon · stretch · enlarge · widen · broaden · volumetric · bulge · plump
hydrogel
Water-swollen polymer structure
cellulose · silicone · rubber · gel · resin · elastomer · bentonite · pectin · alginate · collagen
tumor
Abnormal tissue mass
- cystFluid-filled tissue sac
- edemaPathological tissue puffiness
- inflammationProtective tissue response
hypertrophy · lymph · gland · tissue · blister · abscess · hematoma · joint · mucosa · prostate
stimulus
What prompts a reaction
- biocompatibleAccepted by living tissue
- triggerWhat initiates action
- actuatorDevice producing controlled motion
self-healing · adaptive · morphing · drug-delivery · biosensor
swellableshrinkable
Able to reduce in size
contractible · compressible · collapsible · shrink-resistant · shrinking
swell, swells, swelled, swelling, swellings, swollen, unswollen