surfactant
noun
ˈsər-ˌfak-\
Definition of surfactant
: a surface-active substance (such as a detergent)
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Examples of surfactant in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
District workers, who also treat other breeding locations in forest preserves and elsewhere, use surfactants to smother mosquitoes that make it to the pupa form. — Kathy Routliffe, chicagotribune.com, "Heat, rain, mean earlier mosquito spray operations in Wilmette, Winnetka," 9 July 2018 The mussels also contained four kinds of synthetic surfactants -- the chemicals found in detergents and cleaning products -- seven kinds of antibiotics, five types of antidepressants, more than one antidiabetic drug and one chemotherapy agent. — Susan Scutti, CNN, "Mussels in Washington's Puget Sound test positive for opioids, other drugs," 25 May 2018 Compounds that lower water’s surface tension are called surfactants, which work by separating the water molecules from one another. — Science Buddies, Scientific American, "Surface Tension Science: Build a Raft Powered by Soap," 26 June 2014 The campaign will identify products that are made without ingredients like surfactants (chemicals used to help clean and create suds) SLS and SLES, parabens, formaldehyde, phthalates, musks, or mineral oil. — Shannon Barbour, The Cut, "Sephora Is Launching a ‘Clean’ Beauty Section," 11 May 2018 But surfactants lower surface tension, which means that a rising bubble doesn’t immediately burst. — Mika Mckinnon, Smithsonian, "Sea Foam Delights Visitors of Lebanese Beach," 31 Jan. 2018 Steer clear of silicones and harsh chemical surfactants and reach for natural oils and ingredients. — Lamar Dawson, GQ, "How to Grow a Long Beard That Never Gets Scraggly," 16 Apr. 2018 Armourdale also produces surfactant, the cleansing agent, for Tide, ERA, Cheer and Old Spice Body Wash. — Mark Davis, Matt Campbell And Robert A. Cronkleton, kansascity, "P&G’s move ends generations of soap making in Armourdale factory | The Kansas City Star," 7 Feb. 2018 Follow with lukewarm water and a dime-size amount of cleanser (look for the ingredients cocamidopropyl betaine or caprylic triglyceride, which are sulfate-free surfactants) on your fingers or a clean, damp washcloth. — Gina Way, Marie Claire, "This Is How You Should *Really* Be Washing Your Face," 12 Sep. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'surfactant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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More Definitions for surfactant
surfactant
noun
\
Medical Definition of surfactant
: a surface-active substance specifically : a surface-active lipoprotein mixture which coats the alveoli and which prevents collapse of the lungs by reducing the surface tension of pulmonary fluids
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