I. soap 1 S3 /səʊp $ soʊp/ BrE AmE noun
[ Language: Old English ; Origin: sape ]
1 . [uncountable and countable] the substance that you use to wash your body ⇨ detergent :
Wash thoroughly with soap and water.
a bar of soap
2 . [countable] informal a ↑ soap opera
• • •
COLLOCATIONS
■ phrases
▪ a bar of soap
She was washing herself with a big bar of soap.
▪ soap and water
Did you wash your hands with soap and water?
■ soap + NOUN
▪ a soap bubble
a sink filled with soap bubbles
▪ soap suds (=a lot of soap bubbles)
She paused and looked at him, her arms covered in soap suds.
▪ a soap dish (=a container for a bar of soap)
▪ a soap dispenser (=a container from which you get liquid soap)
■ adjectives
▪ scented/perfumed soap
His hands smelled of perfumed soap.
■ verbs
▪ soap lathers (=it produces bubbles when made wet)
Soap will not lather in hard water.
II. soap 2 BrE AmE verb [transitive]
to rub soap on or over someone or something