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Definition 2024

amphipathic ‎(not comparable)

(chemistry) describing a molecule, such as a detergent, which has both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups.
(biochemistry) often refers to the surface(s) on a protein, particularly an alpha helix, where one surface of the alpha helix has hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite face has hydrophobic (or lipophilic) amino acids.

of a molecule: having both hydrophobic and hydrophilic groups

of an alpha helix: having one surface with hydrophilic amino acids and the opposite surface with hydrophobic or lipophilic aminoacids