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DETERGENT
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I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
A cleansing agent that differs from soap but can also emulsify oils and hold dirt in suspension
Classified under:
Nouns denoting man-made objects
Hypernyms ("detergent" is a kind of...):
cleaner; cleanser; cleansing agent (a preparation used in cleaning something)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "detergent"):
dishwasher detergent; dishwashing detergent; dishwashing liquid (a low-sudsing detergent designed for use in dishwashers)
laundry detergent (any of various detergents designed for use in a washing machine for clothing)
liquid detergent (a detergent in liquid form)
Derivation:
deterge (wipe away; to wash off or out, cleanse; chiefly in medical use: to clear away foul matter from the body)
detergent (having cleansing power)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A surface-active chemical widely used in industry and laundering
Classified under:
Hypernyms ("detergent" is a kind of...):
surface-active agent; surfactant; wetter; wetting agent (a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "detergent"):
anionic; anionic detergent; non-ionic detergent (a class of synthetic detergents in which the molecules do not ionize in aqueous solutions)
cationic detergent; invert soap (a class of synthetic detergents in which the surface-active part of the molecule is the cation)
SLS; sodium lauryl sulfate; sodium lauryl sulphate (a caustic detergent useful for removing grease; although commonly included in personal care items (shampoos and toothpastes etc.) it can irritate skin and should not be swallowed)
Derivation:
detergent (having cleansing power)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Having cleansing power
Synonyms:
detergent; detersive
Classified under:
Similar:
purifying (freeing from noxious matter)
Derivation:
deterge (wipe away; to wash off or out, cleanse; chiefly in medical use: to clear away foul matter from the body)
detergence; detergency (detergent quality; the quality of having cleansing power)
detergent (a cleansing agent that differs from soap but can also emulsify oils and hold dirt in suspension)
detergent (a surface-active chemical widely used in industry and laundering)
Context examples:
A lotion dosage form which has a soap or detergent that is usually used to clean the hair and scalp; it is often used as a vehicle for dermatologic agents.
(Lotion Shampoo Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)
A powder composed of a mild abrasives, detergents, flavoring agents, binders, fluoride, and other active and/or inert ingredient(s).
(Dentifrice Powder Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)
A paste of mild abrasives, detergents, flavoring agents, binders, fluoride, and other active and/or inert ingredient(s).
(Dentifrice Paste Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)
Those from the liver are usually high in vitamin A. The oils are used as dietary supplements, in soaps and detergents, as protective coatings, and as a base for other food products such as vegetable shortenings.
(Fish Oil, NLM, Medical Subject Headings)
The condition often occurs as a nonspecific response to mechanical injury from incidental corneal contact by intraocular instruments during surgery; chemical injury from the improper use of intraocular drugs, drugs containing preservatives, or from residues from inadequate rinsing of detergents or other residues from surgical instruments.
(Corneal Decompensation, NCI Thesaurus)
A simple molecule in the atmosphere that acts as a detergent to breakdown methane and other greenhouse gases has been found to recycle itself to maintain a steady global presence in the face of rising emissions, according to new NASA research.
(Greenhouse Gas ‘Detergent’ Recycles Itself in Atmosphere, NASA)
Compared to docetaxel alone, the LM formulation may enhance stability, improve efficacy and may reduce toxicity; this formulation does not contain toxic detergents needed to solubilize docetaxel which further improves its side effect profile.
(Docetaxel Lipid Microspheres, NCI Thesaurus)
Known as quaternary ammonium compounds or quats, the chemicals are often used as disinfectants and preservatives in household and personal products such as cleaners, laundry detergent, fabric softener, shampoo and conditioner, and eye drops.
(Common Household Chemicals Lead to Birth Defects in Mice, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
But to do their work, the detergents (also known as surfactants) first need to mix with both the oil and water — and oil and water, famously, don't mix.
(Sunlight reduces effectiveness of dispersants used to clean up oil spills, National Science Foundation)
They showed that sunlight rapidly transforms oil into residues that are only partially soluble in a dispersant's solvent, limiting the ability of detergents to mix with the photo-oxidized oil and break the oil into droplets.
(Sunlight reduces effectiveness of dispersants used to clean up oil spills, National Science Foundation)
