REPELLENT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does repellent mean? 

• REPELLENT (noun)
  The noun REPELLENT has 3 senses:

1. a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water

2. a chemical substance that repels animals

3. the power to repel

  Familiarity information: REPELLENT used as a noun is uncommon.

• REPELLENT (adjective)
  The adjective REPELLENT has 3 senses:

1. serving or tending to repel

2. highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust

3. incapable of absorbing or mixing with

  Familiarity information: REPELLENT used as an adjective is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REPELLENT (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

repellant; repellent

Hypernyms ("repellent" is a kind of...):

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

Derivation:

repellent (serving or tending to repel)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A chemical substance that repels animals

Classified under:

Nouns denoting substances

Synonyms:

repellant; repellent

Hypernyms ("repellent" is a kind of...):

chemical compound; compound ((chemistry) a substance formed by chemical union of two or more elements or ingredients in definite proportion by weight)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "repellent"):

insect repellant; insect repellent; insectifuge (a chemical substance that repels insects)

Derivation:

repel (be repellent to; cause aversion in)

repellent (serving or tending to repel)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The power to repel

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

repellant; repellent

Context example:

she knew many repellents to his advances

Hypernyms ("repellent" is a kind of...):

power; powerfulness (possession of controlling influence)

Derivation:

repellent (incapable of absorbing or mixing with)

repellent (serving or tending to repel)

• REPELLENT (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Serving or tending to repel

Synonyms:

rebarbative; repellant; repellent

Context example:

I find his obsequiousness repellent

Similar:

unpleasant (offensive or disagreeable; causing discomfort or unhappiness)

Derivation:

repellent (the power to repel)

repellent (a chemical substance that repels animals)

repellent (a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust

Synonyms:

disgustful; disgusting; distasteful; foul; loathly; loathsome; repellant; repellent; repelling; revolting; skanky; wicked; yucky

Context example:

a wicked stench

Similar:

offensive (unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses)

Derivation:

repel (be repellent to; cause aversion in)

repel (fill with distaste)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Incapable of absorbing or mixing with

Synonyms:

repellent; resistant

Context example:

plastic highly resistant to steam and water

Similar:

nonabsorbent; nonabsorptive (not capable of absorbing or soaking up (liquids))

Derivation:

repellent (the power to repel)

 Context examples 

The mosquito-repellent properties of thyme oil have long been known.

(Thyme oil and corn starch prove deadly for mosquito larvae, SciDev.Net)

The outer coat is water-repellent and the undercoat is dense.

(Golden Retriever, NCI Thesaurus)

The water-repellent long outer coat is flat, oily and slightly wavy with a thick oily undercoat.

(Newfoundland, NCI Thesaurus)

Chloromethyl methyl ether is used in the synthesis of chloromethylated compounds, as an alkylating agent, and as a solvent in the manufacture of water repellents, ion-exchange resins, and industrial polymers.

(Chloromethyl Methyl Ether, NCI Thesaurus)

The coat is basically water-repellent and protects it from brambles.

(German Wirehaired Pointer, NCI Thesaurus)

However, increasing regulations and growing public health concerns about synthetic repellents and insecticides like DEET have sparked interest in developing plant-based repellents that are more effective and longer lasting.

(Coconut Oil Compounds Repel Insects Better than DEET, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

The surface is also treated chemically to further enhance its repellent properties, resulting in a barrier that is flexible, durable and inexpensive to reproduce.

(Scientists Create Superbug-Resistant Self-Cleaning Surface, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

The team has developed a robust bio-inspired, liquid, sludge-, and bacteria-repellent coating that can essentially make a toilet self-cleaning.

(Materials scientists invent new coating for self-cleaning, water-efficient toilets, Wikinews)

Oaths and vile language of any sort had always been repellent to me.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

To lower your risk when traveling in dengue-prone countries: • Wear insect repellent with DEET • Wear clothes that cover your arms, legs and feet • Close unscreened doors and windows

(Dengue, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)