Repellent
[rɪ'pel(ə)nt] or [rɪ'pɛlənt]
Definition
(noun.) the power to repel; 'she knew many repellents to his advances'.
(noun.) a chemical substance that repels animals.
(noun.) a compound with which fabrics are treated to repel water.
(adj.) incapable of absorbing or mixing with; 'a water-repellent fabric'; 'plastic highly resistant to steam and water' .
Editor: Lora--From WordNet
Definition
(a.) Driving back; able or tending to repel.
(n.) That which repels.
(n.) A remedy to repel from a tumefied part the fluids which render it tumid.
(n.) A kind of waterproof cloth.
Checked by Alden
Examples
- A system so various in its structure has many contradictory aspects, some very attractive, and some very repellent to a liberal intelligence. H. G. Wells. The Outline of History_Being a Plain History of Life and Mankind.
- The movement of the two elements in relation to each other requires some force to overcome the repellent and attractive actions, and this force is converted into electrical energy. Edward W. Byrn. The Progress of Invention in the Nineteenth Century.
- I Presently the rude Real burst coarsely in--all evil grovelling and repellent as she too often is. Charlotte Bronte. Villette.
- It was her voice, curiously clear and repellent, that gave her away. D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
- Then she half rose from her chair, saying, in a final, repellent voice: 'Then let me go home--what am I doing here? D. H. Lawrence. Women in Love .
Typist: Loretta