Definition, Meaning & Synonyms

bilayer

noun

/ˈbaɪˌleɪ.ər/

Definition

A structure composed of two layers, typically referring to a membrane surrounding cells or organelles.

Examples

The cell membrane is a bilayer made of lipids.
A model of the bilayer helps explain how substances move in and out of cells.
Researchers studied the properties of a lipid bilayer in their experiments.

Meaning

In biology and materials science, a bilayer refers to a sheet-like structure made up of two molecular layers. This can apply to phospholipid membranes, where each layer has hydrophilic (water-attracting) heads and hydrophobic (water-repelling) tails, creating a semi-permeable barrier.