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REPELLENT
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
I. (noun)
Sense 1
Meaning:
The power to repel
Example:
she knew many repellents to his advances
Synonyms:
repellant; repellent
Classified under:
Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects
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)
Sense 2
Meaning:
A chemical substance that repels animals
Synonyms:
repellant; repellent
Classified under:
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:
A compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water
Synonyms:
repellant; repellent
Classified under:
Nouns denoting substances
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)
II. (adjective)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Incapable of absorbing or mixing with
Example:
plastic highly resistant to steam and water
Synonyms:
repellent; resistant
Classified under:
Similar:
nonabsorbent; nonabsorptive (not capable of absorbing or soaking up (liquids))
Derivation:
repellent (the power to repel)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Highly offensive; arousing aversion or disgust
Example:
a wicked stench
Synonyms:
disgustful; disgusting; distasteful; foul; loathly; loathsome; repellant; repellent; repelling; revolting; skanky; wicked; yucky
Classified under:
Similar:
offensive (unpleasant or disgusting especially to the senses)
Derivation:
repel (be repellent to; cause aversion in)
repel (fill with distaste)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Serving or tending to repel
Example:
I find his obsequiousness repellent
Synonyms:
rebarbative; repellant; repellent
Classified under:
Adjectives
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)
Context examples:
Naphthalene is obtained from either coal tar or petroleum distillation and is primarily used to manufacture phthalic anhydride, but is also used in moth repellents.
(Naphthalene, NCI Thesaurus)
Harriet was farther unfortunate in the tone of her companions at Mrs. Goddard's; Mr. Elton being the adoration of all the teachers and great girls in the school; and it must be at Hartfield only that she could have any chance of hearing him spoken of with cooling moderation or repellent truth.
(Emma, by Jane Austen)
With his thick knotted arms, his thundering voice, and his bristle of red hair, there was something so repellent in the man that the three brothers flew back at the very glare of him; and the two rows of white monks strained away from him like poplars in a tempest.
(The White Company, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
The best way to prevent the disease is to protect yourself from sand fly bites: • Stay indoors from dusk to dawn, when sand flies are the most active • Wear long pants and long-sleeved shirts when outside • Use insect repellent and bed nets as needed
(Leishmaniasis, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)
These coconut oil-derived compounds offer longer-lasting protection than any other known natural repellent against insect blood-feeding.
(Coconut Oil Compounds Repel Insects Better than DEET, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Inspired by the water-repellent lotus leaf, the new surface works through a combination of nano-scale surface engineering and chemistry.
(Scientists Create Superbug-Resistant Self-Cleaning Surface, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
Using repellents is one of the most efficient ways to prevent disease transmission and discomfort associated with insect bites.
(Coconut Oil Compounds Repel Insects Better than DEET, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
For more than 60 years, DEET has been considered the gold standard in insect repellents—the most effective and long-lasting available commercially.
(Coconut Oil Compounds Repel Insects Better than DEET, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
Coconut oil itself is not a repellent, Zhu emphasized.
(Coconut Oil Compounds Repel Insects Better than DEET, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
