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emollient

 
Dictionary: e·mol·lient   (ĭ-mŏl'yənt) pronunciation

adj.
  1. Softening and soothing, especially to the skin.
  2. Making less harsh or abrasive; mollifying: the emollient approach of a diplomatic mediator.
n.
  1. An agent that softens or soothes the skin.
  2. An agent that assuages or mollifies.

[Latin ēmolliēns, ēmollient-, present participle of ēmollīre, to soften : ē-, ex-, intensive pref.; see ex- + mollīre, to soften (from mollis, soft).]


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Antonyms:

emollient

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adj

Definition: conciliatory
Antonyms: aggravating

adj

Definition: moisturizing
Antonyms: irritating

n

Definition: moisturizer
Antonyms: irritant


Dental Dictionary:

emollient

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(ē-mï′lē-ənt)
n

An agent that is soothing to the skin or mucous membrane; makes the skin softer or smoother.

Veterinary Dictionary:

emollient

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1. soothing and softening, as an emollient bath given for various skin disorders.
2. an agent that softens or soothes the skin, or soothes an irritated internal surface.

Word Tutor:

emollient

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pronunciation

IN BRIEF: n. - Toiletry consisting of any of various substances in the form of a thick liquid that have a soothing and moisturizing effect when applied to the skin adj. - Having a softening or soothing effect especially to the skin.

Tutor's tip: The "emolument" (salary, wages, or gain from employment) of her new job allowed her to buy the expensive "emollient" (a substance for soothing or softening the skin) she loves.

Wikipedia:

Emollient

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Emollients are substances that soften and soothe the skin. They are used to correct dryness and scaling of the skin. They are a key component in the manufacture of lipstick, lotions, and other cosmetic products.

The terms "moisturizer" (something that adds moisture) and "emollient" (something that softens) are sometimes used interchangeably, as they describe different effects of these agents on the skin. However, the term emollient is most often used to describe single ingredients, whereas "moisturizer" describes finished products.

Emollient can also be used to describe a person as soft and soothing

Mechanism of action

Emollients have three basic properties:

  • Occlusion - providing a layer of oil on the surface of the skin to slow water loss and thus increase the moisture content of the stratum corneum
  • Humectant - increasing the water-holding capacity of the stratum corneum
  • Lubrication - adding slip or glide across the skin.

See also



Translations:

emollient

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Emollient

Dansk (Danish)
adj. - blødgørende
n. - blødgøringsmiddel

Nederlands (Dutch)
verzachtend, iets dat verzachtend werkt

Français (French)
adj. - émollient
n. - émollient

Deutsch (German)
n. - Weichmittel
adj. - weich machend

Ελληνική (Greek)
n. - μαλακτικό
adj. - μαλακτικός

Italiano (Italian)
emolliente

Português (Portuguese)
n., -
adj. - emoliente (m) (Med.)

Русский (Russian)
смягчающее средство, смягчающий

Español (Spanish)
adj. - emoliente
n. - emoliente

Svenska (Swedish)
n. - uppmjukande (lenande) medel (salva)
adj. - uppmjukande, lenande

中文(简体)(Chinese (Simplified))
使柔软的, 软化剂, 缓和剂

中文(繁體)(Chinese (Traditional))
adj. - 使柔軟的
n. - 軟化劑, 緩和劑

한국어 (Korean)
adj. - 부드럽게 하는
n. - 완화제, 연화약

日本語 (Japanese)
adj. - 柔らかにする, 苦痛を緩和する
n. - 和らげるもの, 皮膚軟化薬

العربيه (Arabic)
‏(الاسم) مرطب, مهدئ (صفه) مرطب, مهدئ‏

עברית (Hebrew)
adj. - ‮מרגיע, מרכך‬
n. - ‮משחת עור‬


 
 

 

Copyrights:

Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
Answers Corporation Antonyms. © 1999-2009 by Answers Corporation. All rights reserved.  Read more
Dental Dictionary. Mosby's Dental Dictionary. Copyright © 2004 by Elsevier, Inc. All rights reserved.  Read more
Veterinary Dictionary. Saunders Comprehensive Veterinary Dictionary 3rd Edition. Copyright © 2007 by D.C. Blood, V.P. Studdert and C.C. Gay, Elsevier. All rights reserved.  Read more
Word Tutor. Copyright © 2004-present by eSpindle Learning, a 501(c) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved.
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Wikipedia. This article is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Emollient" Read more
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