/ rɪˈpelənt; NAmE / adjective , noun
■ adjective
1.
repellent (to sb) ( formal ) very unpleasant; causing strong dislike
SYN repulsive :
Their political ideas are repellent to most people.
2.
(in compounds) not letting a particular substance, especially water, pass through it :
water-repellent cloth
■ noun [ U , C ]
1.
a substance that is used for keeping insects away from you :
(an) insect repellent
2.
a substance that is used on cloth, stone, etc. to prevent water from passing through it :
(a) water repellent
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WORD ORIGIN
mid 17th cent.: from Latin repellent- driving back, from the verb repellere , from re- back + pellere to drive.