soluble
Meaning of soluble: A soluble substance dissolves in a given liquid, a property that determines how a compound is absorbed, formulated, or transported in the body.
Definition of soluble
Soluble describes a substance capable of dissolving in a particular liquid, most often water, to form a uniform solution. Solubility is an important property in medicine and pharmacology because it affects how a medication is formulated, how well it can be absorbed after being taken, and how it is transported and used within the body.
Some substances are highly soluble in water, while others dissolve poorly in water but readily in fat or oil-based substances, a property that influences how a drug is absorbed, distributed throughout the body, and eventually eliminated. In laboratory testing, the solubility of a substance can affect how it is measured or how a specimen is prepared for analysis.
The word is also used to describe biological molecules, such as soluble proteins that circulate freely within blood or other body fluids, as distinguished from proteins bound to a cell membrane or structural tissue.
Used in a sentence
The medication was reformulated to improve its solubility and absorption.
Good to know
A drug's solubility in water versus fat influences how well it is absorbed and how it distributes within the body, which is one reason similar drugs can behave differently depending on this property.