<p><strong>Noun:</strong></p><ul><li>any of a group of synthetic, organic, liquid or water-soluble cleaning agents that, unlike soap, are not prepared from fats and oils, are not inactivated by hard water, and have wetting-agent and emulsifying-agent properties</li><li>a similar substance that is oil-soluble and capable of holding insoluble foreign matter in suspension, used in lubricating oils, dry-cleaning preparations, etc.</li><li>any cleansing agent, including soap</li></ul><p><strong>Adjective:</strong></p><ul><li>cleansing; purging</li></ul>