nucleophilic

adjective

nu·​cle·​o·​phil·​ic ˌnü-klē-ə-ˈfi-lik 

ˌnyü-

1

of an atom, ion, or molecule : having an affinity for atomic nuclei : being an electron donor

2

: involving a nucleophilic species

a nucleophilic reaction

compare electrophilic

nucleophilically

ˌnü-klē-ə-ˈfi-li-k(ə-)lē 

ˌnyü-

adverb

nucleophilicity

ˌnü-klē-ō-fi-ˈli-sə-tē 

ˌnyü-

noun

Word History

First Known Use

1933, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Medical Definition

nucleophilic

adjective

nu·​cleo·​phil·​ic ˌn(y)ü-klē-ə-ˈfil-ik 

1

of an atom, ion, or molecule : having an affinity for atomic nuclei : being an electron donor

2

: involving a nucleophilic species

a nucleophilic reaction

nucleophilically

-i-k(ə-)lē 

adverb

nucleophilicity

-klē-ō-fil-ˈis-ət-ē 

noun

plural nucleophilicities