English Lexicon

Dispersant

/dɪˈspɜːr.sənt/
nounadjectiveCEFR C1 (Advanced)Top #28400 frequency
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Comprehensive Definitions & Senses

2 senses
As noun
  1. 1

    A substance used to disperse or scatter fine solid or liquid particles in a medium, preventing them from settling or clumping.

    "Environmental crews applied a chemical dispersant to break up the oil spill in the ocean."
As adjective
  1. 1

    Serving to disperse or scatter particles in a suspension or solution.

    "The industrial mixture relied on a dispersant additive to maintain uniform texture."

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Antonyms & Contrasting Words (1)

Linguistic Origin & Historical Etymology

Derived from the Latin 'dispersus', past participle of 'dispergere' (meaning to scatter or disperse), combining 'dis-' (apart) and 'spargere' (to scatter). It entered scientific and technical English in the mid-20th century to describe chemical agents used to break up particles or oil slicks.

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