shampoo
sham-POO
Shampoo (noun) means a liquid soap-like product made for washing hair. Example: “She switched to a shampoo made for dry hair.”
noun
1
A liquid soap-like product made for washing hair.
"She switched to a shampoo made for dry hair."
"This shampoo also works well on delicate carpets."
verb
1
To wash hair, carpet, or upholstery using shampoo.
"He shampooed his hair twice to get the chlorine smell out."
"We had the living room rug professionally shampooed."
How to use shampoo
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA product (or the act of using it) for cleaning hair or fabric.
Common pairings
bottle of shampoo
shampoo and conditioner
shampoo the carpet
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Word forms
- Plural
- shampoos
- Third person singular
- shampoos
- Past tense
- shampooed
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She switched to a _____ made for dry hair.
Etymology
From Hindi champo, an instruction meaning "press!" or "knead!", from a verb for massaging the body — it originally described a warm-water body massage before it came to mean hair washing in English.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for shampoo
See all rhymes for shampoo →Frequently asked questions
What does “shampoo” mean?
The word “shampoo” means a liquid soap-like product made for washing hair. In plain terms, a product (or the act of using it) for cleaning hair or fabric.
How do you pronounce “shampoo”?
“Shampoo” is pronounced sham-POO (/ʃæmˈpuː/ in IPA).
How do you use “shampoo” in a sentence?
Here is “shampoo” used in a sentence: “She switched to a shampoo made for dry hair.”
What part of speech is “shampoo”?
Depending on how it is used, “shampoo” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “shampoo” come from?
The word “shampoo” comes from Hindi. From Hindi champo, an instruction meaning "press!" or "knead!", from a verb for massaging the body — it originally described a warm-water body massage before it came to mean hair washing in English.
Is “shampoo” a common word?
“Shampoo” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “shampoo” have?
“Shampoo” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a liquid soap-like product made for washing hair.
What is the difference between shampoo and conditioner?
Shampoo is a liquid soap-like product used to wash and clean hair, removing dirt and oil. Conditioner is typically applied afterward to soften and detangle hair, rather than to clean it.
Can shampoo be used as a verb?
Yes. Shampoo functions as a verb meaning to wash hair, carpet, or upholstery using shampoo, as in "shampoo the carpet before the guests arrive."
What is carpet shampoo used for?
Carpet shampoo is a shampoo product formulated specifically for washing carpets and upholstery rather than hair, using the same core cleaning action described by the verb shampoo.
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