Definition of: capillarity

(kapə·lar′ə·tē) noun
1. The state or quality of being capillary.
2. Physics The interaction between the molecules of a liquid and those of a solid: a form of surface tension. When the adhesive force is stronger the liquid will tend to rise above mean level at the points of contact with the solid, as water in clean glass; when cohesion dominates, the liquid will tend to fall below this level, as mercury. [<F capillarité]