A substance usually in the colloidal state or an emulsion, which is wetted by water; i.e., it attracts water or water adheres to it.

Hydrophile, from the Greek (hydros) "water" and φιλια (philia) "friendship," refers to a physical property of a molecule that can transiently bond with water (H2O) through hydrogen bonding. This is thermodynamically favorable, and makes these molecules soluble not only in water, but also in other polar solvents. There are hydrophillic and Hydrophobic parts of the cell membrane.