detergent

 
Pronunciation: /dɪˈtəːdʒ(ə)nt/

noun

  • a water-soluble cleansing agent which combines with impurities and dirt to make them more soluble, and differs from soap in not forming a scum with the salts in hard water: liquid detergents [mass noun]: packets of detergent
  • any additive with a similar action to a detergent, e.g. an oil-soluble substance which holds dirt in suspension in lubricating oil.

adjective

  • relating to detergents or their action: staining that resists detergent action

Derivatives

detergence

noun

detergency

noun

Origin:

early 17th century (as an adjective): from Latin detergent- 'wiping away', from the verb detergere, from de- 'away from' + tergere 'to wipe'