Which term is used to describe a lipid that is hydrophobic?

Hydrophobic lipids are characterized by their inability to interact with water molecules, leading to what is known as repulsion by water. This term effectively describes how these lipids do not mix well with water due to their molecular structure, which typically consists of long hydrocarbon chains that are nonpolar. Consequently, hydrophobic substances tend to avoid water and cluster together, minimizing their exposure to it.

In contrast, terms related to attraction or affinity for water would describe hydrophilic substances, which have polar or charged regions that can interact favorably with water. Therefore, understanding the distinction between hydrophobic and hydrophilic substances is crucial in fields like biochemistry and cell biology, where the behavior of substances in aqueous environments is fundamental to cellular function and membrane structure.