Definition of "amphiphilic"

amphiphilic

adjective
comparative more amphiphilic, superlative most amphiphilic
1. (chemistry, of a molecule) Being a detergent: having both hydrophilic and hydrophobic (or lipophilic) groups.
  Quotations
  Sequential living polymerizations of hydrophilic and hydrophobic vinyl ethers from these trifunctional initiators give amphiphilic triarmed block copolymers where the hydrophilic segments may be placed either inner or outer layer of the three arms.
  1997, Hatada, Macromolecular Design of Polymeric Materials, page 45
2. (biochemistry, of a protein, especially an alpha helix) Having one surface consisting of hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface consisting of hydrophobic (or lipophilic) ones.