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“detergent”
detergent
1. A cleansing substance; especially, a synthetic liquid that dissolves dirt and oil.
2. A cleansing substance that acts similarly to soap but is made from chemical compounds rather than fats and lye.
3. Etymology: from 1616, from Latin detergentem, form of detergere "to wipe away"; from de-, "off, away" plus tergere, "to rub, polish, wipe".
2. A cleansing substance that acts similarly to soap but is made from chemical compounds rather than fats and lye.
3. Etymology: from 1616, from Latin detergentem, form of detergere "to wipe away"; from de-, "off, away" plus tergere, "to rub, polish, wipe".
It was originally a medical term. The modern application of "chemical cleansing product" came into existence at about 1938.