Soap

Pronunciation

• GenAm IPA: /soÊŠp/
• RP IPA: /səʊp/
• Rhymes: -əʊp

Alternative forms

• sope obsolete

Origin

From Middle English sope, sape, from Old English sāpe ("soap, salve"), from Proto-Germanic *saipǭ, from Proto-Indo-European *seyb-, *seyp- ("to pour out, drip, trickle, strain"). Cognate with Scots saip, sape ("soap"), West Frisian sjippe ("soap"), Dutch zeep ("soap"), Low German sepe ("soap"), German Seife ("soap"), Swedish såpa ("soap"), Icelandic sápa ("soap"). Related also to Old English sāp ("amber, resin, pomade, unguent"), Latin sēbum ("tallow, fat, grease"). See seep.

Full definition of soap

Noun

1. (uncountable) A substance able to mix with both oil and water, used for cleaning, often in the form of a solid bar or in liquid form, derived from fats or made synthetically.I tried washing my hands with soap, but the stain wouldn't go away.
2. (countable, informal) A soap opera.

Derived terms

Verb

1. (transitive) To apply soap to in washing.Be sure to soap yourself well before rinsing.
2. (transitive, informal) To cover with soap as a prank.Those kids soaped my windows!
3. (transitive, informal) To be discreet about (a topic).
4. (slang, dated) To flatter; to wheedle.

Synonyms

• (to be discreet about) soft soap, sugar soap, soft-pedal, downplay

Related terms

• soaper
• saponification

Anagrams

• OAPs