Associations to the word «Surfactant»

Wiktionary

SURFACTANT, noun. (chemistry) A surface active agent, or wetting agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid; typically organic compounds having a hydrophilic "head" and a hydrophobic "tail".
SURFACTANT, noun. (biochemistry) A lipoprotein in the tissues of the lung that reduces surface tension and permits more efficient gas transport.

Dictionary definition

SURFACTANT, noun. A chemical agent capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid in which it is dissolved.

Wise words

Words are always getting conventionalized to some secondary meaning. It is one of the works of poetry to take the truants in custody and bring them back to their right senses.
William Butler Yeats