detergent

(dĕ-tĕr′jĕnt)

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[L. detergere, to wipe off]

1. Something that purges or cleanses; cleansing.
2. A cleaning or wetting agent prepared synthetically from any of several chemicals. These are classed as anionic if they have a negative electric charge or cationic if they have a positive charge.
SEE: soap

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