saponin noun. ['sapǝnɪn] Also saponine [-i:n]. M19.
[French saponine, from Latin sapo(n-): see SAPONARIA, -IN¹.]
Chemistry. Any of various steroid or terpenoid glycosides obtained from certain plants, which are usu. toxic (esp. to fish), form foam in aqueous solution; and are used esp. as emulsifiers and detergents; spec. such a substance derived from soapwort, Saponaria officinalis, or the soapbark tree, Quillaja saponaria.

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