soap

[ sohp ]

noun

1. a substance used for washing and cleansing purposes, usually made by treating a fat with an alkali, as sodium or potassium hydroxide, and consisting chiefly of the sodium or potassium salts of the acids contained in the fat.
2. any metallic salt of an acid derived from a fat.
3. Slang. money, especially as used for bribery in politics.
4. Slang. Also soap opera.

verb (used with object)

1. to rub, cover, lather, or treat with soap.

soap

/ səʊp /

noun

1. See detergent
   a cleaning or emulsifying agent made by reacting animal or vegetable fats or oils with potassium or sodium hydroxide. Soaps often contain colouring matter and perfume and act by emulsifying grease and lowering the surface tension of water, so that it more readily penetrates open materials such as textiles See also detergent saponaceous
2. See metallic soap
   any metallic salt of a fatty acid, such as palmitic or stearic acid See also metallic soap
3. slang.
   flattery or persuasive talk (esp in the phrase soft soap )
4. See soap opera
   informal.
   short for soap opera
5. slang.
   money, esp for bribery
6. no soap slang.
   no soap not possible or successful

verb

1. tr to apply soap to
2. slang.
   troften foll byup
   1. to flatter or talk persuasively to
   2. to bribe

soap

/ sōp /

1. A substance used for washing or cleaning, consisting of a mixture of sodium or potassium salts of naturally occurring fatty acids. Like detergents, soaps work by surrounding particles of grease or dirt with their molecules, thereby allowing them to be carried away. Unlike detergents, soaps react with the minerals common in most water, forming an insoluble film that remains on fabrics. For this reason soap is not as efficient a cleaner as most detergents. The film is also what causes rings to form in bathtubs.
2. Compare detergent

Derived Forms

• ˈsoapless, adjective
• ˈsoapˌlike, adjective

Other Words From

• soapless adjective
• soaplike adjective
• over·soap verb (used with object)
• un·soaped adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of soap¹

before 1000; Middle English sope, Old English sāpe, cognate with German Seife, Dutch zeep, all < West Germanic (perhaps ≫ Latin sāpō; saponify )

Word History and Origins

Origin of soap¹

Old English sāpe; related to Old High German seipfa, Old French savon, Latin sāpō

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. no soap, Informal. no go:

   He wanted me to vote for him, but I told him no soap.

More idioms and phrases containing soap

In addition to the idiom beginning with soap , also see no dice (soap) ; on one's soapbox ; soft soap .

Example Sentences

She said there are schools with windows that won’t open, without soap in the restrooms and where ventilation systems are out of date.

From Washington Post

People also need access to things like clean water, soap, and fresh underwear to confidently get through their day-to-day life while on their period.

From Popular-Science

Businesses provide soap, paper towels, water, and toilet paper to customers and employees who use their restrooms without charge—and without second thought.

From Fortune

Plus, it’s harder to obtain basic necessities like soap or masks and on-site testing is still hard to come by.

From Voice of San Diego

Experts have also heard reports about difficulties accessing things like masks or soap in various facilities, or that sometimes staff members don’t always use masks while interacting with those detained.

From Voice of San Diego

It was a Senate floor soap opera over none other than a soap-opera producer.

From The Daily Beast

White King Soap sponsored the show on the West Coast, and Beech-Nut Gum in the East.

From The Daily Beast

It is impossible to talk about Dr. Strange without mentioning soap, apple juice, and suicide.

From The Daily Beast

And just this week, reports surfaced that the regime recently executed 10 party officials for watching South Korean soap operas.

From The Daily Beast

Like the soap operas of yore, Marvel has replaced major and minor characters in their films as necessary.

From The Daily Beast

Why use dangerous cosmetics when Jones' soap retains youth and health for the complexion, and fosters the development of beauty?

From Project Gutenberg

Why, he ordered his chamber-maid to bring him some soap and warm water, that he might wash the sour krout off his hands.

From Project Gutenberg

Or turn from the gray officials to the purple citizens of the soap bubble commonwealth of socialism.

From Project Gutenberg

She peered around the room for the last time, and then dropped two small clean towels and a cake of soap into the bag.

From Project Gutenberg

I ordered lukewarm baths, frequent fomentations, and the use of oil and soap, applied externally and rubbed into the body.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• detergent
• soapsuds