surfactant

sur·fac·tant

 (sər-făk′tənt, sûr′făk′-)

n.

1. A surface-active substance.

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

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[surf(ace)-act(ive) + a(ge)nt.]

American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright © 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

surfactant

(sɜːˈfæktənt)

n

(Chemistry) 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

adj

(Chemistry) having the properties of a surfactant

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

Collins English Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged, 12th Edition 2014 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2014

sur•fac•tant

(sərˈfæk tənt)

n.

any surface-active substance, as a detergent or a natural or artificial substance that coats the lungs and prevents them from collapsing.

[1945–50; surf(ace)-act(ive)a(ge)nt]

Random House Kernerman Webster's College Dictionary, © 2010 K Dictionaries Ltd. Copyright 2005, 1997, 1991 by Random House, Inc. All rights reserved.

sur·fac·tant

(sər-făk′tənt)

1. A substance, such as detergent, that is added to a liquid to increase its ability to spread.

2. A substance produced by the tiny air-filled sacs of the lung that reduces the surface tension of the fluids coating the lung. Surfactant helps keep the tiny air sacs from collapsing during normal breathing.

The American Heritage® Student Science Dictionary, Second Edition. Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

surfactant

(surface active agent) A substance (for example a detergent) added to a liquid which can alter its spreading or wetting characteristics by lowering its surface tension.

Dictionary of Unfamiliar Words by Diagram Group Copyright © 2008 by Diagram Visual Information Limited

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

surfactant - a chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved surface-active agent, wetter, wetting agent emulsifier - a surface-active agent that promotes the formation of an emulsion chemical agent - an agent that produces chemical reactions detergent - a surface-active chemical widely used in industry and laundering

Based on WordNet 3.0, Farlex clipart collection. © 2003-2012 Princeton University, Farlex Inc.

Translations

tensioactiftensio-actif

surfactant

n (Chem) → Tensid nt

Collins German Dictionary – Complete and Unabridged 7th Edition 2005. © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1980 © HarperCollins Publishers 1991, 1997, 1999, 2004, 2005, 2007

sur·fac·tant

n. surfactante, agente tensoactivo que modifica la tensión superficial de un líquido.

English-Spanish Medical Dictionary © Farlex 2012

surfactant

n surfactante m

English-Spanish/Spanish-English Medical Dictionary Copyright © 2006 by The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. All rights reserved.