detersive

[ dih-tur-siv ]

adjective
  1. cleansing; detergent.

noun
  1. a detersive agent or medicine.

Origin of detersive

1
1580–90; <Middle French détersif<Latin dēters(us) (past participle of dētergēre;see deterge) + -if-ive

Other words from detersive

  • de·ter·sive·ly, adverb
  • de·ter·sive·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024