surfactant
[ ser-fak-tuh nt ]
/ sərˈfæk tənt /
noun Chemistry.
Origin of surfactant
1945–50; shortening of
surf(ace)-act(ive)
a(ge)nt
Words nearby surfactant
British Dictionary definitions for surfactant
surfactant
/ (sɜːˈfæktənt) /
noun
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
adjective
having the properties of a surfactant
Word Origin for surfactant
C20:
surf (
ace)
-act (
ive)
a (
ge)
nt
Medical definitions for surfactant
surfactant
[ sər-făk′tənt, sûr′făk′- ]
n.
A surface-active substance.
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.
Scientific definitions for surfactant
surfactant
[ sər-făk′tənt ]
A substance that, when dissolved in water, lowers the surface tension of the water and increases the solubility of organic compounds. Surfactants are used in inks to increase the effects of capillary action; detergents are surfactants that help remove organic compounds from a substance by making them dissolve more readily in the water in which the substance is washed.
A substance composed of lipoprotein that is secreted by the alveolar cells of the lung and maintains the stability of pulmonary tissue by reducing the surface tension of fluids that coat the lung.