Subscriber login


Forgot your password?

Library card login

Other

emollient

Syllabification: (e·mol·lient)
Pronunciation: /iˈmälyənt/

Definition of emollient

adjective

  • having the quality of softening or soothing the skin:an emollient cream
  • attempting to avoid confrontation or anger; soothing or calming:the president’s emollient approach to differences

noun

  • a preparation that softens the skin:formulated with rich emollients

Derivatives

emollience

noun

Origin:

mid 17th century: from Latin emollient- 'making soft', from the verb emollire, from e- (variant of ex-) 'out' + mollis 'soft'

emollient in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of emollient in the British & World English dictionary

Nearby words

  |  Cite

Word of the day

secretagogue

/ sɪˈkriːtəgɒg /
noun
a substance which promotes secretion …