n.
Pronunciation: ' sa-p ə -n ə n, s ə - ' p ō -
Function: noun
Etymology: French saponine, from Latin sapon-, sapo
Date: 1831
: any of various mostly toxic glucosides that occur in plants (as soapwort or soapbark) and are characterized by the property of producing a soapy lather especially : a hygroscopic amorphous saponin mixture used especially as a foaming and emulsifying agent and detergent