Reference meaning
detergent
Last updated
a surface-active chemical widely used in industry and laundering
Other meanings
2. noun
a cleansing agent that differs from soap but can also emulsify oils and hold dirt in suspension
3. adjective
having cleansing power
Source and scope
This definition is reproduced from Princeton WordNet 3.0, sense 15097017-n, under the WordNet 3.0 License. It has not yet received VocabularyBase editorial review. Read the source and license details.