emulsion

emulsion — noun

1. A stable mixture formed when tiny droplets of one liquid are spread evenly throu

1.名詞B2
釋義

A stable mixture formed when tiny droplets of one liquid are spread evenly through another liquid that they would not normally mix with — for example, oil dispersed in vinegar to make vinaigrette, or fat suspended in milk.

例句

Inês mixed oil and vinegar to create a temporary emulsion for her salad dressing.

create a temporary emulsion for [food/liquid]

Milk is a natural emulsion of tiny fat droplets spread throughout water.

同義詞
  • colloid

    Broader technical term for any mixture where one substance is dispersed in another, not limited to liquids.

  • suspension

    Describes solid particles floating in a liquid rather than liquid droplets in another liquid.

反義詞
  • solution

    A homogeneous mixture where one substance dissolves completely in another, unlike an emulsion where the liquids remain separate.

用法筆記

Frequently uncountable when referring to the general concept ("Emulsion forms when you shake oil and water together"), but countable when talking about a specific type ("This is a stable emulsion"). Common in chemistry, cooking, and cosmetics contexts.

常見錯誤

❌Oil and water form a solution when shaken.
✅Oil and water form an emulsion when shaken.
💡In a solution, one substance dissolves into another; in an emulsion, the liquids remain separate as tiny droplets.

2. A wall paint that has water as its main liquid, dries to a flat finish without s

2.名詞B1
釋義

A wall paint that has water as its main liquid, dries to a flat finish without shine, and is commonly used on indoor walls and ceilings.

例句

Eli chose white emulsion for the walls because it dries fast and has no smell.

choose emulsion for [surface]

Salma bought a five-litre tub of matt emulsion to repaint the hallway this weekend.

matt emulsion

同義詞
  • latex paint

    The American English term for the same product. British speakers rarely use this term.

  • matt paint

    A broader term for any paint that dries without shine, not limited to water-based paints.

用法筆記

In everyday British English, 'emulsion' or 'emulsion paint' is the standard word for water-based wall paint. In American English, this product is usually called 'latex paint'.

常見錯誤

❌I bought emulsion for the wooden fence.
✅I bought outdoor wood paint for the wooden fence.
💡Emulsion is designed for interior walls and ceilings, not for outdoor surfaces or bare wood.

3. A light-sensitive layer of chemical compounds spread onto photographic film or p

3.名詞C1
釋義

A light-sensitive layer of chemical compounds spread onto photographic film or paper, which captures an image when it is exposed to light and then processed.

例句

Traditional film is coated with a light-sensitive emulsion of silver compounds suspended in gelatin.

light-sensitive emulsion of silver compounds

Kemi developed the black-and-white film by immersing the emulsion-coated paper in chemical baths.

emulsion-coated paper

同義詞
  • film coating

    A non-technical description of the same layer, though less precise.

用法筆記

This sense is now mostly encountered in discussions of traditional film photography. Digital cameras do not use emulsion. The word is uncountable when referring to the substance generally ("The emulsion reacted to the light") but countable when referring to different types ("Modern emulsions are more sensitive than early ones").