Main Entry: sa·po·nin

Pronunciation: \ˈsa-pə-nən, sə-ˈpō-\

Function: noun

Etymology: French saponine, from Latin sapon-, sapo

Date: 1831

: any of various mostly toxic glucosides that occur in plants (as soapwort or soapbark) and are characterized by the property of producing a soapy lather; especially : a hygroscopic amorphous saponin mixture used especially as a foaming and emulsifying agent and detergent