repellent

adjective

1. causing distaste or aversion; repulsive.
2. forcing or driving back.
3. serving or tending to ward off or drive away.
4. impervious or resistant to something (often used in combination): moth-repellant.

noun

5. something that repels, as a substance that keeps away insects.
6. a medicine that serves to prevent or reduce swellings, tumors, etc.
7. any of various durable or nondurable solutions applied to a fabric, garment, surface, etc., to increase its resistance, as to water, moths, mildew, etc.

adjective

1. giving rise to disgust or aversion; distasteful or repulsive
2. driving or forcing away or back; repelling

noun Also: repellant

3. something, esp a chemical substance, that repelsinsect repellent
4. a substance with which fabrics are treated to increase their resistance to water

adj.

also repellant, 1640s, from Latin repellentem (nominative repelens), present participle of repellere (see repel). Originally of medicines (that reduced tumors); meaning “distasteful, disagreeable” first recorded 1797.

n.

also repellant, 1660s, “medicine that reduces tumors,” from repellent (adj.). As “substance that repels insects,” 1908.

adj.

1. Capable of driving off or repelling.

n.

1. A substance used to drive off or keep away insects.