Surfactant Definition

sər-făktənt, sûrfăk-
surfactants
noun
surfactants

Any substance that is surface-active.

Webster's New World
A substance composed of lipoprotein that is secreted by the alveolar cells of the lung and serves to maintain the stability of pulmonary tissue by reducing the surface tension of fluids that coat the lung.
American Heritage

(chemistry) A surface active agent, or wetting agent, capable of reducing the surface tension of a liquid; typically organic compounds having a hydrophilic "head" and a hydrophobic "tail".

Wiktionary
Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Surfactant

Noun

Singular:
surfactant
Plural:
surfactants

Origin of Surfactant

  • surf(ace)-act(ive) a(ge)nt

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • surface-active agent

    From Wiktionary

Surfactant Sentence Examples

  • The absence of surfactant, which normally reduces the surface tension in the lungs, leads to collapse.

  • Near the nozzle tip, the surface strain rates are very large, so the surfactant adsorption is very small.

  • He was intubated, commenced on IPPV and given surfactant.

  • Some contain a surfactant called sodium lauryl sulfate, which is a common cause of reactions, particularly in people with eczema.

  • We have a project looking at the use of biological systems to produce surfactant.

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Words Starting With

SSUSUR

Words Ending With

TNTANT

Unscrambles

surfactant

Words Starting With S and Ending With T

Starts With S & Ends With TStarts With SU & Ends With TStarts With S & Ends With NT

Word Length

10 Letter Words10 Letter Words Starting With S10 Letter Words Ending With T