sham·poo
shampoo
- pronunciation:
- shaem
pu
- parts of speech:
- transitive verb, noun
- features:
- Word History, Word Explorer
| part of speech: |
transitive verb |
| inflections: |
shampooed, shampooing, shampoos |
| definition: |
to cleanse (the hair, a rug, or the like) with a soap or detergent solution.
|
| related words: |
clean, cleanse, dip, wash |
|
|
| part of speech: |
noun |
| inflections: |
shampoos |
| definition 1: |
a soap or detergent solution used to cleanse the hair.
|
| definition 2: |
a liquid cleanser used on rugs, upholstery, or the like.
|
| definition 3: |
an instance of shampooing.
I went to the barber for a shampoo and a trim. |
| related words: |
wash |
| derivation: |
shampooer (n.) |
English speakers did not use
shampoo until the 1860s. The word itself entered English in the 1700s. It was an English version of a Hindi word meaning "to massage." The word did not have the present meanings of "wash the hair" and "soap for the hair" until the 1860s.