Word: detergent (noun)

Associations

Detergent is a substance used for cleaning, especially in washing clothes or dishes. It helps remove dirt, stains, and grease.

• Example 1: "I need to buy some detergent before doing laundry." (Here, detergent is used to clean clothes.)
• Example 2: "She added detergent to the dishwasher for sparkling dishes." (In this case, detergent is used for cleaning dishes.)
• Example 3: "The detergent worked well to remove the stain from the carpet." (Here, detergent is effective in cleaning a specific stain.)

A well-known synonym for detergent is "cleanser." The main difference is that "cleanser" can refer to any product that cleans, while "detergent" specifically refers to cleaning agents used in washing.

Substitution

You can use words like "cleaning agent," "soap," or "cleanser" instead of detergent, but they might change the meaning slightly. For example:

• "Cleaning agent" is a general term that can include detergents and other cleaning products.
• "Soap" usually refers to a type of detergent made from natural ingredients, while "detergent" can be synthetic.
• "Cleanser" is broader and can refer to products used for skin or household cleaning.

Deconstruction

The word "detergent" comes from the Latin root "detergere," which means "to wipe away." It has the prefix "de-" meaning "away" and the root "tergere" meaning "to wipe." This shows that detergents are meant to wipe away dirt and stains.

Inquiry

• Can you think of a time when you used detergent for a specific cleaning task? What was it?
• How do you choose which detergent to use for different cleaning jobs?
• Have you ever used a natural detergent instead of a chemical one? What was your experience?