Synonyms and antonyms of Words used to describe properties of substances in British Thesaurus

absorbent (adjective)

an absorbent material can take in or hold a lot of something, especially liquid

astringent (adjective)

medical an astringent substance or liquid makes your skin drier or helps to stop a cut from bleeding

harsh (adjective)

harsh substances are very powerful and may damage the things that they are used on

impermeable (adjective)

something that is impermeable does not let liquid or gas pass through it

impervious (adjective)

science something that is impervious to a substance does not let the substance pass through it

impure (adjective)

an impure substance contains an amount of another substance, especially one that is less valuable or of lower quality

permeable (adjective)

a permeable substance is one that a liquid or gas can pass through

photosensitive (adjective)

reacting to light, especially by changing colour

porous (adjective)

a porous substance has a lot of very small holes in it so that air and water can pass through it

solid (adjective)

consisting of one substance only

soluble (adjective)

science able to dissolve in a liquid and become part of the liquid

stiff (adjective)

a mixture that is stiff is very thick and keeps its shape when you stop mixing it

uncut (adjective)

allowed to grow longer without being cut to a particular length

uncut (adjective)

in one piece, before being cut for use

volatile (adjective)

science a volatile liquid or substance can easily change into a gas

water-soluble (adjective)

a water-soluble substance dissolves in water (=becomes part of the water that you put it into)