noun
canal; drainage; water conveyance
Refers to man-made waterways for irrigation, drainage, or water supply. Often used in compound terms like 疎水工事 (canal construction).
この地域には農業用の疎水が張り巡らされている。
Agricultural canals run throughout this area.
大雨で疎水があふれそうだ。
The drainage channel is about to overflow due to the heavy rain.
noun-modifying (irregular)
hydrophobic; water-repellent
Only when written 疎水
Scientific term describing a substance or surface that repels water. Antonym: 親水 (hydrophilic).
Antonyms: 親水
このコーティングは疎水性が高い。
This coating is highly hydrophobic.
疎水表面では水滴がはじかれる。
Water droplets are repelled on a hydrophobic surface.
From 疎 (sparse, distant) + 水 (water). The canal sense derives from the idea of diverting water; the hydrophobic sense is a modern scientific coinage.