Meaning & use
emulsifying
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“emulsifying” is a form of “emulsify”. See that entry for the full set of meanings.
Meanings
verbtransitive
Present participle of emulsify: mixing two liquids that do not usually combine, such as oil and water, into a smooth mixture.
Grammar: Used after be or as a gerund; takes an object: 'She is emulsifying the sauce.'
Patterns
- emulsifying something
- emulsifying oil and water
- an emulsifying agent
The chef is emulsifying the oil and vinegar to make a salad dressing.
Emulsifying the butter into the sauce gives it a smooth, glossy texture.
An emulsifying agent helps keep the mixture from separating.
adjectivebefore a nountechnical
Describing a substance or process that causes liquids to mix into an emulsion.
Grammar: Used before a noun, as in 'emulsifying agent' or 'emulsifying properties'.
Patterns
- emulsifying agent
- emulsifying properties
- emulsifying effect
Lecithin is a common emulsifying agent in chocolate.
The emulsifying properties of the powder make it useful in cosmetics.
Scientists studied the emulsifying effect of the new compound.
Word forms
| third person singular | emulsifies |
|---|---|
| past tense | emulsified |
| past participle | emulsified |
| -ing form | emulsifying |
Common combinations
- emulsifying agent
- Mustard acts as an emulsifying agent in vinaigrette.
- emulsifying properties
- The emulsifying properties of egg yolk are well known.
- emulsifying oil and water
- Emulsifying oil and water requires vigorous whisking.
- emulsifying effect
- The emulsifying effect of the additive improved the lotion.
Synonyms and how they differ
- blending
- Blending is more general and can mean mixing any substances, while emulsifying specifically means combining liquids that normally separate.
- homogenizing
- Homogenizing means making a mixture uniform throughout, often by force; emulsifying focuses on the chemical process of forming an emulsion.
Opposites
Word family
- emulsify verb
- To mix two liquids into an emulsion.
- emulsion noun
- A mixture of two liquids that do not normally combine.
- emulsifier noun
- A substance that helps form an emulsion.
- emulsifiable adjective
- Capable of being emulsified.
Commonly confused: emulsifying or emulsified?
emulsifying vs emulsified
Emulsified is the past tense or past participle ('the sauce emulsified'), while emulsifying is the present participle or gerund ('the emulsifying process').
Practice
Which sentence uses 'emulsifying' correctly?
Choose one answer.
Option 0 correctly uses the present participle after 'is' to form the present continuous. Option 1 is wrong because 'yesterday' requires a past tense. Option 2 is wrong because the sentence lacks a main verb. Option 3 is wrong because the present participle without 'is' cannot be the main verb.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “emulsifying”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.