Wicklike

Wicklike is an adjective used in technical writing to describe objects or structures that resemble a wick in form or function. A wick is a slender strand that draws liquid by capillary action toward evaporation or a reservoir. Therefore, a wicklike feature typically shares a narrow, threadlike geometry or the ability to transport fluid passively through porous material or capillary channels.

Etymology and usage: The form is a compound of wick and the suffix -like, indicating resemblance. It is used across disciplines such as materials science, textiles, botany, and microfluidics to describe both physical shapes and functional behavior that resemble a wick.

Applications and examples: In engineering, wicklike structures appear in wick-fed heat pipes and in passive cooling systems where a porous barrier or fiber deck transports liquid to the evaporator. In textiles and apparel, wicklike fibers or fabrics are designed to move moisture away from the skin. In microfluidics, wicklike channels or membranes enable capillary-driven fluid transport without external pumps. In biology, researchers may describe certain thin projections or tube-like extensions as wicklike when they exhibit moisture or liquid transport along surfaces.

See also: wick, wicking, capillary action.