Amphoteric

2 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  amphoteric \am`pho*ter"ic\ ([a^]m`f[-o]*t[e^]r"[i^]k), a. [Gr.
     'amfo`teros both.]
     1. Partly one and partly the other
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. Especially: (Chem.) Having both acidic and basic groups


        within the same molecule, and consequently neither acid
        nor alkaline; neutral. [R.] --Smart.
        [PJC] amphotericin

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  amphoteric
       adj : having characteristics of both an acid and a base and
             capable of reacting as either [syn: {amphiprotic}]
             [ant: {acidic}, {alkaline}]