ALL meanings of surface-active
sur·face-ac·tive
S s - adjective surface-active (of a substance, esp a detergent) capable of lowering the surface tension of a liquid, usually water 0
- adjective surface-active designating or of a substance, as a detergent or wetting agent, that lowers the surface tension of the solvent in which it is dissolved or the tension at the interface between two immiscible liquids 0