SOAP

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does soap mean? 

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

1. a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats

2. money offered as a bribe

3. street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate

  Familiarity information: SOAP used as a noun is uncommon.

• SOAP (verb)
  The verb SOAP has 1 sense:

1. rub soap all over, usually with the purpose of cleaning

  Familiarity information: SOAP used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• SOAP (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

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

cleaner; cleanser; cleansing agent (a preparation used in cleaning something)

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

bar soap (soap in the form of a bar)

castile soap (a good hard soap made from olive oil and sodium hydroxide)

liquid soap (soap in liquid form)

leather soap; saddle soap (a mild soap for cleansing and conditioning leather)

soap flakes (soap that has been cut into flakes to make suds faster)

built-soap powder; soap powder; washing powder (soap in powdered form mixed with alkaline builders)

green soap; soft soap (a soft (or liquid) soap made from vegetable oils; used in certain skin diseases)

bath soap; face soap; toilet soap (soap used as a toiletry)

Derivation:

saponify (convert into soap by hydrolizing an ester into an acid and alcohol as a result of treating it with an alkali)

soap (rub soap all over, usually with the purpose of cleaning)

soapy (resembling or having the qualities of soap)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Money offered as a bribe

Classified under:

Nouns denoting possession and transfer of possession

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

bribe; payoff (payment made to a person in a position of trust to corrupt his judgment)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Street names for gamma hydroxybutyrate

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

easy lay; Georgia home boy; goop; grievous bodily harm; liquid ecstasy; max; scoop; soap

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

gamma hydroxybutyrate; GHB (a club drug available in liquid or powder form is taken orally (frequently combined with alcohol); used to incapacitate individuals for the commission of sexual assault and rape)

• SOAP (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they soap    ... he / she / it soaps   
Past simple: soaped   
Past participle: soaped   
-ing form: soaping   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rub soap all over, usually with the purpose of cleaning

Classified under:

Verbs of grooming, dressing and bodily care

Synonyms:

lather; soap

Hypernyms (to "soap" is one way to...):

clean; cleanse (clean one's body or parts thereof, as by washing)

"Soap" entails doing...:

lave; wash (cleanse (one's body) with soap and water)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

Did he soap his foot?

Derivation:

soap (a cleansing agent made from the salts of vegetable or animal fats)

 Context examples 

Soap and water work well to kill germs.

(Germs and Hygiene, NIH)

If an animal bites you, clean the wound with soap and water as soon as possible.

(Animal Bites, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

If you do get a scratch or bite, wash it well with soap and water.

(Cat Scratch Disease, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

Triclosan is added to some toothpastes, antibacterial soaps and body washes, as well as some cosmetics.

(Common Ingredient in Toothpaste Puts Women at Risk of Bone Disease, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

You don’t need to have perfectly clean water for handwashing… if you use soap, hands can still effectively be cleaned.

(Slightly dirty water ‘still ok’ against coronavirus, SciDev.Net)

Disability Assessment for Dementia (DAD) Prepare the water, towels, and soap for washing, taking a bath or a shower?

(DAD - Prepare the Water, Towels, and Soap for Washing, Taking a Bath or Shower, NCI Thesaurus)

To keep your feet healthy: • Examine your feet regularly • Wear comfortable shoes that fit • Wash your feet daily with soap and lukewarm water • Trim your toenails straight across and not too short

(Foot Health, NIH: National Institute on Aging)

Pine oil is used for aromatherapy and for its antiseptic qualities in soaps and cleaning products.

(Pine Needle Oil (Pinus Sylvestris), NCI Thesaurus)

A chemical substance that comes from plants and is used to make vitamins E and K. Phytol is also found in soaps, beauty care products, and household products.

(Phytol, NCI Dictionary)

A solution or mixture of various substances in oil, alcoholic solutions of soap, or emulsions intended for external application.

(Liniment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus/CDISC)