different between lotion vs emollient

English

Etymology

Borrowed from Old French lotion, from Latin lotio, lotionem (“a washing”), from lavo (“to wash”); see lave. Doublet of lavation.

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /?lo???n/
• `
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /?l????n/
• Rhymes: -????n

Noun

lotion (usually uncountable, plural lotions)

1. A low- to medium-viscosity topical preparation intended for application to unbroken skin.
2. (archaic) A washing, especially of the skin for the purpose of beautification.

Synonyms

• lavatory

Derived terms

• lotional

Translations

See also

• cream (generally a bit thicker than a lotion)

Verb

lotion (third-person singular simple present lotions, present participle lotioning, simple past and past participle lotioned)

1. (transitive) To cover or treat with a lotion.
   • 2005, Ryan Phillips, Fall from Grace (page 52)

     Grace lotions her arms and legs and joins him in the large walk-in closet where they change out of their clothes and into their pajamas—loose-fitting cotton bottoms for Mike and a lace-trimmed baby doll nightie for Grace.

   • 2011, Jeanne Starr Gater, Bring Back Summertime (page 89)

     I would finish my daily ranging session by lotioning his legs, and lotioning and rubbing his feet.

Further reading

• lotion in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• lotion in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.

Anagrams

• lootin', otolin

English

Etymology

From French émollient, from Latin emolli?ns, present active participle of ?molli? (“make soft”), from ex- + molli?, from mollis (“soft”).

Pronunciation

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /??m?l.?.?nt/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /??m?l.j?nt/

Noun

emollient (plural emollients)

1. Something which softens or lubricates the skin; moisturizer.
   • 2008, Carol A. Miller, Nursing for Wellness in Older Adults (Fifth edition), Lippincott Williams & Wilkins, p. 505,

     [T]he effectiveness of an emollient is based on its ability to prevent water evaporation, […]

2. Anything soothing the mind, or that makes something more acceptable.
   • 2004, David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas,

     Attentive conversation is an emollient I lack sorely aboard Prophetess & the doctor is a veritable polymath.

Translations

Adjective

emollient (comparative more emollient, superlative most emollient)

1. Moisturizing.
2. Soothing or mollifying.

Translations

Related terms

• mollify

Latin

Verb

?mollient

1. third-person plural future active indicative of ?molli?