surfactant

[ ser-fak-tuhnt ]

/ sərˈfæk tənt /

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noun Chemistry.

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Origin of surfactant

1945–50; shortening of surf(ace)-act(ive)a(ge)nt

Words nearby surfactant

surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, surface-to-underwater, surface wave, surfacing, surfactant, surf and turf, surfbird, surfboard, surfboarding, surf boat

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use surfactant in a sentence

In addition, the surfactants allow for water to better clean glasses without leaving spots and help glasses sparkle more.
The Dirty Secret of America’s Clean Dishes|by Max Blau and Lylla Younes, photography by Kathleen Flynn, special to ProPublica|December 20, 2021|ProPublica
The surfactant vessel stands near dozens of other ingredients, each waiting to be used in a recipe for different household cleaning products.
The Dirty Secret of America’s Clean Dishes|by Max Blau and Lylla Younes, photography by Kathleen Flynn, special to ProPublica|December 20, 2021|ProPublica
While marketed as a gentle makeup remover, the low concentration of surfactants within it mean it functions essentially the same as soapy water, without the need for any additional water to remove residue.
Smell better with these stink-proof tips|Hugh Neill|September 16, 2021|Popular-Science
The researchers then reduced the water’s surface tension with a surfactant to make it more difficult for the ants to float.
Fire ants build little syphons out of sand to feed without drowning|Aayushi Pratap|October 20, 2020|Science News

Different types of surfactants are often added to pesticides to help them spread better, the researchers say, so ants could potentially be exposed to similar conditions in the wild as they were in the lab.
Fire ants build little syphons out of sand to feed without drowning|Aayushi Pratap|October 20, 2020|Science News

British Dictionary definitions for surfactant

surfactant

/ (sɜːˈfæktənt) /

noun

Also called: surface-active agent a substance, such as a detergent, that can reduce the surface tension of a liquid and thus allow it to foam or penetrate solids; a wetting agent

adjective

having the properties of a surfactant

Word Origin for surfactant

C20: surf (ace) -act (ive) a (ge) nt

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for surfactant

surfactant

[ sər-făk′tənt ]

A substance that, when dissolved in water, lowers the surface tension of the water and increases the solubility of organic compounds. Surfactants are used in inks to increase the effects of capillary action; detergents are surfactants that help remove organic compounds from a substance by making them dissolve more readily in the water in which the substance is washed.

A substance composed of lipoprotein that is secreted by the alveolar cells of the lung and maintains the stability of pulmonary tissue by reducing the surface tension of fluids that coat the lung.