COLLODION Meaning and
Definition
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Collodion is a noun that refers to a highly flammable, colorless or yellowish liquid, traditionally made by dissolving nitrocellulose, camphor, and ether in a mixture of alcohol and ether. It is commonly used in various industries, including medicine and photography.
In medicine, collodion is often used as an adhesive or protective covering for wounds, burns, or skin lesions. Due to its sticky nature, it forms a durable and flexible film upon evaporation, creating a barrier that protects the injured area from external contaminants and promotes healing. Its quick-drying property makes it particularly suitable for minor cuts or abrasions.
Within photography, collodion is used specifically in the wet collodion process, a technique widely employed during the early days of photography in the mid-19th century. This process involves coating a glass plate with collodion, which is then sensitized with silver nitrate to become light-sensitive. The plate is exposed while still wet, resulting in a negative image that can be developed and fixed. This method, although laborious and time-consuming, produced exceptionally detailed and sharp images and contributed greatly to the advancement of early photography.
Overall, collodion is a versatile substance with applications in medicine and photography. Its adhesive properties make it useful for wound care, while its light-sensitive qualities make it an important element in historical photographic techniques.
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A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
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A solution of gun-cotton in ether.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
Common Misspellings for COLLODION
- xollodion
- vollodion
- follodion
- dollodion
- cillodion
- ckllodion
- clllodion
- cpllodion
- c0llodion
- c9llodion
- coklodion
- coplodion
- coolodion
- colkodion
- colpodion
- coloodion
- collkdion
- collldion
- collpdion
Etymology of COLLODION
The word "collodion" comes from the French word "collodéine", which was derived from the Greek word "kolla" meaning "glue" or "glue-like substance". It was coined in the early 19th century to describe a solution of pyroxylin (a gummy substance) in ether and alcohol that forms a flexible film when applied to surfaces. This word was used specifically in reference to the cellulose nitrate solution that was commonly used in early photography as a binder for photographic emulsions and for making flexible film negatives called collodion wet plates.
Similar spelling words for COLLODION
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