emulsion
(ɪˈmʌlʃən)
Also 7 emulction.
[ad. mod.L. ēmulsiōn-em, n. of action f. L. ēmulgēre to milk out. In Fr. émulsion.]
† 1. The action of ‘milking out’. fig. Cf. emulge v.
| 1658 J. Robinson Eudoxa Pref. 4 My wished end is, by gentle concussion, the emulsion of truth. |
† 2. (See quot.) Obs.
| 1657 Phys. Dict., Emulsions, the steeping or dissolution by steeping of any seeds or kernels in liquor till it come to the thickness of a jelly. |
3. a. A milky liquid obtained by bruising almonds, etc. in water. b. Pharmacy. ‘A milky liquid, consisting of water holding in suspension minute particles of oil or resin by the aid of some albuminous or gummy material’ (Syd. Soc. Lex.). Also attrib.
| 1612 Ench. Med. II. 138 Also an emulction prepared of Almonds. 1664 Evelyn Kal. Hort. (1729) 208 Emulsions of the cooler seeds bruised. 1712 tr. Pomet's Hist. Drugs I. 22 Gourd Melons..are chiefly us'd for Emulsions. 1875 Darwin Insectiv. Pl. vi. 127 Leaves immersed in an emulsion of starch. 1880 Nature XXI. 436 A special arrangement upon a gelatine emulsion plate. |
4. Photogr. A mixture consisting of a silver compound held in suspension in collodion or gelatin, used in coating plates, films, etc. Also attrib.
| 1840 J. F. W. Herschel in Phil. Trans. CXXX. 8 My first attention was directed to the discovery of a liquid, or emulsion, which by a single application, whether by dipping or brushing over, should communicate the desired quality [of sensitiveness]. 1877 English Mechanic 23 Nov. 261/2 Emulsions..consisting of collodion and silver, ready for pouring upon plates. 1878 W. W. Abney Treat. Photogr. xvi. 115 All the different varieties of the emulsion processes. Ibid. xxii. 153 If a glass plate has to be coated with the emulsion, the same directions as those given for coating emulsion plates should be followed. 1880 [see Dict., 3]. 1908 Westm. Gaz. 18 Jan. 14/2 The emulsion side of the film or plate. Ibid. 25 July 14/2 This positive can be made on a silver emulsion plate. 1958 M. L. Hall Newnes Complete Amat. Photogr. 75 Individual semi-rigid sheets of thicker, transparent film, emulsion-coated, designed for darkroom loading into film-holders. |
5. emulsion paint, a water-thinned paint containing a non-volatile substance, e.g. synthetic resin, as its binding medium.
| 1939–40 Army & Navy Stores Catal. 238/2 Hall's distemper. Oil-emulsion paint. 1944 G. M. Sutheim in J. J. Mattiello Protect. & Decorat. Coatings IV. xi. 331 Emulsion paint is a surface coating in which the vehicle is an emulsion. Ibid. 333 The main difference between emulsion paint and ordinary or improved water paints is the fact that emulsion paints form continuous hydrophobic films on drying. 1958 Woman 22 Feb. 2/1 Emulsion paint goes over old emulsion. 1960 House & Garden June 72/1 Emulsion paints..need no special undercoat, are speedy to apply, dry in a few hours. |