electrophoresis

noun

elec·​tro·​pho·​re·​sis i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈrē-səs 

: the movement of suspended particles through a medium (such as paper or gel) under the action of an electromotive force applied to electrodes in contact with the suspension

electrophorese

i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈrēs 

-ˈrēz

transitive verb

electrophoretic

i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈre-tik 

adjective

electrophoretically

i-ˌlek-trə-fə-ˈre-ti-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

Examples of electrophoresis in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The new devices, an organic electronic ion pump custom designed for the anatomy of rats, is based on the principle of electrophoresis: the transport of molecules through a fluid or gel under the influence of an electric field. —IEEE Spectrum, 8 May 2015

Gel electrophoresis uses an electrical field to separate out the molecules of DNA and the florescent stain in the gel allows the results to be viewed under a black light. —Kendra MacK, Anchorage Daily News, 4 Aug. 2023

The most common blood test is hemoglobin electrophoresis, in which electrical currents are passed through a blood sample, separating different types of hemoglobin into discrete bands. —Krithika Varagur, Harper's Magazine, 10 July 2023

Back in her lab, Watsa analyzes the sample using a small electrophoresis device that’s connected to a smartphone. —Katie Hunt, CNN, 4 Dec. 2022

Rather than use electrophoresis, Righetti opted to try a more powerful technique called mass spectrometry. —Jo Marchant, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Nov. 2022

These fragments were then placed in a gel and separated by electrophoresis, the application of an electric charge. —Fortune, 14 June 2018

The test uses a process called capillary electrophoresis to separate a liquid into its independent components. —Jay Bennett, Popular Mechanics, 27 Jan. 2017

His invention, called gel electrophoresis, is in wide use today. —Denise Gellene, New York Times, 11 Jan. 2017

Word History

Etymology

New Latin

First Known Use

1911, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing electrophoresis

• capillary electrophoresis
• gel electrophoresis

Rhymes for electrophoresis

• neurohypophysis
• abscissas
• narcissus
• symphysis
• adenohypophysis
• apophysis
• diaphysis
• dionysus
• epiphysis
• hemolysis
• hypophysis
• metaphysis

Medical Definition

electrophoresis

noun

elec·​tro·​pho·​re·​sis -trə-fə-ˈrē-səs 

plural electrophoreses -ˌsēz 

: the movement of suspended particles through a fluid or gel under the action of an electromotive force applied to electrodes in contact with the suspension

called also cataphoresis

electrophoretic

-ˈret-ik 

adjective

electrophoretically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb