毛细力，表面张力（cohesion force，液体内部的力），adhesive force（液体和固体壁面之间的力）

Capillary action (sometimes called capillarity, capillary motion, capillary rise, capillary effect, or wicking) is the process of a liquid flowing in a narrow space without the assistance of, or even in opposition to, any external forces like gravity.

The effect can be seen in the drawing up of liquids between the hairs of a paint-brush, in a thin tube such as a straw, in porous materials such as paper and plaster, in some non-porous materials such as sand and liquefied carbon fiber, or in a biological cell.

It occurs because of intermolecular forces between the liquid and surrounding solid surfaces. If the diameter of the tube is sufficiently small, then the combination of surface tension (which is caused by cohesion within the liquid) and adhesive forces between the liquid and container wall act to propel the liquid.

Capillary action - Wikipedia

毛细现象（又称毛细管作用）是指液体在细管状物体或多孔物体内部，由“液体与物体间附着力（adhesive force）”和“因液体分子间内聚力（cohesive force）而产生的表面张力”组合而成，令液体在不需施加外力的情况下，流向细管状物体或细缝的现象；该现象可以令液体克服地心引力而上升。此属于一种液体界面现象。

常见的是液体和固体之间的附着力大于液体本身内聚力的情况，如：布料、维管束组织、毛笔、多孔物体吸水、蜡油沿着棉线上升。而毛细管本身则是内径等于或小于1毫米的细管，主要用于医事检验及建筑材料上，一般非专业人员反而较少见。（注：植物根部吸收的水分能够经由茎内维管束上升，除了利用毛细现象外，最主要的原因是蒸散作用）。