soap
/səʊp/ · soap
noun
- A substance able to mix with both oil and water, used for cleaning, often in the form of a solid bar or liquid, derived from fats or made synthetically. She reached for the soap to wash her hands after gardening.
- A metallic salt derived from a fatty acid, employed in industrial or chemical processes. The chemist added a small amount of soap to the reaction to act as a surfactant.
- Flattery or excessively complacent conversation, especially when intended to persuade. His speech was full of soap, trying to win over the skeptical audience.
verb
- To apply soap to something in washing. Remember to soap the car before rinsing it off.
- To cover, lather, or treat with soap, often as a prank. The teenagers soaped the windows, leaving a frothy mess.
- To be discreet about a topic; to soften or conceal the truth. He tried to soap the details of the scandal during the interview.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Did you know? In ancient Babylon, soap was so valuable that it was used as a form of currency, and the phrase "soft soap" later evolved to describe flattering language that smooths over objections.