Retardent - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
A retardant is a substance that slows down or prevents a process, such as fire or chemical reactions. It is commonly used in fire safety to inhibit flames from spreading.
Definition:
A substance that slows down a process, especially combustion or chemical reactions.
Synonyms:
inhibitor, suppressant, dampener
Part of Speech:
noun, adjective
Antonyms:
accelerant, catalyst
Common Collocations:
fire retardant, chemical retardant, flame retardant
Derivatives:
retardation, retarding
Usage Tips:
Use "retardant" as a noun for substances slowing processes or as an adjective describing such properties (e.g., "retardant coating").
Common Phrases:
flame retardant, fire retardant material, chemical retardant agent
Etymology:
Derived from Latin *retardare* ("to delay"), via French *retardant* ("slowing").
Examples:
- 1. The firefighter applied a flame retardant to the burning wood.
- 2. This fabric is treated with a chemical retardant to resist ignition.
- 3. The scientist tested a new retardant to control the reaction speed.
- 4. Retardant sprays are essential for wildfire prevention in dry regions.