capillary action

noun

1. Also called capillary action, capillary attraction. Physics. a manifestation of surface tension by which the portion of the surface of a liquid coming in contact with a solid is elevated or depressed, depending on the adhesive or cohesive properties of the liquid.

noun

1. a phenomenon caused by surface tension and resulting in the distortion, elevation, or depression of the surface of a liquid in contact with a solidAlso called: capillary action

n.

1806, from French capillarité, from Latin capillaris (see capillary).

n.

1. The interaction between contacting surfaces of a liquid and a solid that distorts the liquid surface from a planar shape.

1. The movement of a liquid along the surface of a solid caused by the attraction of molecules of the liquid to the molecules of the solid.