Laundry Detergent: Meaning, Types & Usage Tips

Meaning 1：clothes washing substance (Laundry Detergent)

Laundry Detergent 🔊

/ˈlɔːndri dɪˈtɜːrdʒənt/

A substance used for washing clothes to remove dirt and stains.

Laundry detergent bottle on shelf with washing machine and clean clothes

clothes washing substance 🔊

➕

/kloʊðz ˈwɒʃɪŋ ˈsʌbstəns/

A chemical compound formulated with surfactants to remove dirt and stains from fabrics during washing.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：beginner

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin: 'lavere' (to wash) + 'detergere' (to wipe off).

💡 Mnemonic

Think: 'Laundry Day Detergent' - it 'deterges' dirt away.

📖 Example

My mom prefers using a scented laundry detergent because it makes our clothes smell fresh and clean. 🔊 My mom prefers using a scented laundry detergent because it makes our clothes smell fresh and clean.

🔗 Collocations

liquid laundry detergent – cleaning product in liquid form

laundry detergent pod – pre-measured capsule of detergent

scented laundry detergent – detergent with added fragrance

🔄 Synonyms

fabric detergent (n.) – detergent specifically for clothes

washing powder (n.) – powder form of laundry detergent

soap powder (n.) – a type of laundry detergent made from soap

🌱 Derivatives

detergence (n.) – the quality of being detergent

detergent-free (adj.) – without detergent

launder (v.) – to wash clothes

📖 Cultural Story

Synthetic laundry detergent invented in Germany (1916) due to soap shortage. Brand Persil combined perborate and silicate.