surface tension

1. n. a phenomenon at the surface of a liquid caused by intermolecular forces Source: wordnet
2. That property, due to molecular forces, which exists in the surface film of all liquids and tends to bring the contained volume into a form having the least superficial area. The thickness of this film, amounting to less than a thousandth of a millimeter, is considered to equal the radius of the sphere of molecular action, that is, the greatest distance at which there is cohesion between two particles. Particles lying below this film, being equally acted on from all sides, are in equilibrium as to forces of cohesion, but those in the film are on the whole attracted inward, and tension results. Source: webster
3. That property, due to molecular forces, which exists in thesurface film of all liquids and tends to bring the contained volumeinto a form having the least superficial area. The thickness of thisfilm, amounting to less than a thousandth of a millimeter, isconsidered to equal the radius of the sphere of molecular action,that is, the greatest distance at which there is cohesion between twoparticles. Particles lying below this film, being equally acted onfrom all sides, are in equilibrium as to forces of cohesion, butthose in the film are on the whole attracted inward, and tensionresults. Source: adambom

Thesaurus links