Standard Lemma guide

semipermeable

adj · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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  • /ˌsɛmiˈpɜː(ɹ)miəbəl/
  • /ˌsɛmaɪ-/

1

adj

Meaning 1

Permeable to some things and not to others, as a cell membrane which allows some molecules through but blocks other substances.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

adjective satellite

Meaning 2

(of a membrane) selectively permeable

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *sem- Proto-Indo-European *sēmi Latin sēmi-bor. English semi- English permeable English semipermeable From semi- + permeable.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: полупропусклив (polupropuskliv) — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Chinese Mandarin: 半透的 (bàntòu de) — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Finnish: puoliläpäisevä — permeable to some things and not to others
  • French: semiperméable — permeable to some things and not to others
  • German: halbdurchlässig — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Greek: ημιπερατός (imiperatós) — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Hungarian: szemipermeábilis — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Italian: semipermeabile — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Northern Kurdish: nîvdelînbar — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Māori: tukutaritari — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Persian: نیمهتراوا (nimetarāvā) — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Russian: полупроница́емый (polupronicájemyj) — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Spanish: semipermeable — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Turkish: yarı geçirgen — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Turkish: seçici geçirgen — permeable to some things and not to others
  • Vietnamese: bán thấm — permeable to some things and not to others