A surface-active chemical widely used in industry and laundering.

Roget 652: cleanness, cleanliness etc. adj.; purity; cleaning etc. v.; purification, defecation etc. v.; purgation, lustration^†; detersion^†, abstersion^†; epuration^†, mundation^†; ablution, lavation^†, colature^†; disinfection etc. v.; drainage, sewerage.    lavatory, laundry, washhouse^†; washerwoman, laundress, dhobi^†, laundryman, washerman^†; scavenger, dustman^†, sweep; white wings brush [U.S.]; broom, besom^†, mop, rake, shovel, sieve, riddle, screen, filter; blotter.    napkin, cloth, maukin^†, malkin^†, handkerchief, towel, sudary^†; doyley^†, doily, duster, sponge, mop, swab.    cover, drugget^†.    wash, lotion, detergent, cathartic, purgative; purifier etc. v.; disinfectant; aperient^†; benzene, benzine benzol, benolin^†; bleaching powder, chloride of lime, dentifrice, deobstruent^†, laxative.    ... show more

A cleansing agent that differs from soap but can also emulsify oils and hold dirt in suspension.

Dutch: wasmiddel, afwasmiddel
Polish: detergent

Having cleansing power.

synonym: detersive.

Roget 662: remedial; restorative etc. 660; corrective, palliative, healing; sanatory^†, sanative; prophylactic, preventative, immunizing; salutiferous etc. (salutary) 656^†; medical, medicinal; therapeutic, chirurgical [Med.], epulotic^†, paregoric, tonic, corroborant, analeptic^†, balsamic, anodyne, hypnotic, neurotic, narcotic, sedative, lenitive, demulcent^†, emollient; depuratory^†; detersive^†, detergent; abstersive^†, disinfectant, febrifugal^†, alterative; traumatic, vulnerary.    allopathic^†, heteropathic^†, homeopathic, hydropathic [Med.]; anthelmintic [Med.]; antifebrile [Med.], antiluetic^†; aperient^†, chalybeate^†, deobstruent^†, depurative^†, laxative, roborant^†.    dietetic, alimentary; nutritious, nutritive; peptic; alexipharmic^†, alexiteric^†; remediable, curable.    ... show more