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Definition of "detersive" [de•ter•sive]

  • Detergent. (adjective)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

Use "detersive" in a sentence
  • "The wood of it is full of sap, and as it burns sends forth a very biting smoke; and the ashes of it thoroughly burnt are so acrimonious, that they make a lye extremely detersive."
  • "It is applied extensively as a stimulating and antiseptic astringent and detersive, the herb and seed being used; the decoction is also alluded to in this work as being used in hemorrhage, bloody urine,"
  • "Most of the species of Anemone, says Wilson, Rural Cyc., are acrimonious and detersive."