capillarity: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowFormal, Technical, Scientific
Quick answer
What does “capillarity” mean?
The physical phenomenon where a liquid spontaneously rises or moves within a narrow tube or porous material due to the combined effects of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The physical phenomenon where a liquid spontaneously rises or moves within a narrow tube or porous material due to the combined effects of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.
The tendency of a fluid to be drawn into small spaces, such as the gaps between soil particles or the fibres of a sponge, without the assistance of external forces (like gravity). In broader contexts, it can metaphorically describe subtle, pervasive influence or movement.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical or semantic differences. Spelling and pronunciation follow standard regional patterns (see IPA).
Connotations
Identical technical connotations in both varieties.
Frequency
Equally low frequency and specialized in both BrE and AmE.
Grammar
How to Use “capillarity” in a Sentence
[The] capillarity of [a material/noun phrase] + verb (e.g., 'The capillarity of the soil draws moisture upwards.')[Subject] + demonstrates/exhibits/show + capillarity (e.g., 'The sponge exhibits strong capillarity.')Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “capillarity” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- [No direct verb form. Periphrastic: 'The water capillarised through the brickwork.' is non-standard/rare.]
- [Use 'wick' as a verb: 'The fabric wicks moisture away.']
American English
- [No direct verb form. Periphrastic: 'The solvent capillarized into the crack.' is non-standard/rare.]
- [Use 'wick' as a verb: 'The candle wick draws up the wax.']
adverb
British English
- [No direct adverb. Use prepositional phrase: 'The fluid moved via capillarity.']
American English
- [No direct adverb. Use prepositional phrase: 'The fluid moved via capillarity.']
adjective
British English
- capillary forces
- capillary rise
- capillary tube
American English
- capillary forces
- capillary rise
- capillary tube
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare; might appear in contexts like construction materials, agriculture technology, or paper product specifications.
Academic
Common in physics, chemistry, engineering, geology, soil science, and biology textbooks and papers.
Everyday
Extremely rare; limited to educational contexts or detailed explanations of phenomena like a paper towel soaking up a spill.
Technical
Core term in fluid dynamics, materials science, hydraulic engineering, and plant physiology.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “capillarity”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “capillarity”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “capillarity”
- Mispronunciation: stressing the first syllable (CAP-illarity) instead of the third (cap-ill-AR-ity).
- Using as a countable noun (e.g., 'a capillarity').
- Confusing with 'capillary' (the noun for the tube) instead of the process.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, they are synonymous. 'Capillary action' is perhaps more common in introductory texts, while 'capillarity' is often used in more formal or technical writing.
It would sound very technical. In everyday talk, people would describe the process (e.g., "the towel soaks up the water") rather than name the phenomenon.
It's a combination of forces: adhesion (the liquid sticking to the tube wall), cohesion (the liquid molecules sticking to each other), and surface tension. Adhesion pulls the liquid up the sides, and cohesion pulls the rest of the liquid along with it.
No. While often demonstrated as a vertical rise (like in a tube), capillarity can cause liquids to move horizontally or in any direction through narrow spaces or porous materials, such as water spreading through a brick or soil.
The physical phenomenon where a liquid spontaneously rises or moves within a narrow tube or porous material due to the combined effects of adhesion, cohesion, and surface tension.
Capillarity is usually formal, technical, scientific in register.
Capillarity: in British English it is pronounced /ˌkapɪˈlarɪti/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˌkæpəˈlɛrədi/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “[No established idioms]”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a CAPILLARY (a tiny blood vessel) which is very narrow. CAPILLARITY is what makes liquid rise in such a narrow tube. 'Capillary' + '-ity' = the state/quality of acting like a capillary.
Conceptual Metaphor
LIQUID MOVEMENT IS ATTRACTION (into narrow spaces).
Practice
Quiz
In which of these everyday situations is capillarity the PRIMARY mechanism at work?