shampoo

[ sham-poo ]

verb (used with object)

, sham·pooed, sham·poo·ing.

1. to wash (the head or hair), especially with a cleaning preparation that does not leave a soap film.
2. to clean (rugs, upholstery, or the like) with a special preparation.
3. Archaic. to massage.

noun

1. the act of shampooing.
2. a preparation used for shampooing, especially one that does not leave a soap film.

shampoo

/ ʃæmˈpuː /

noun

1. a liquid or cream preparation of soap or detergent to wash the hair
2. a similar preparation for washing carpets, etc
3. the process of shampooing

verb

1. tr to wash (the hair, etc) with such a preparation

Derived Forms

• shamˈpooer, noun

Other Words From

• sham·pooer noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of shampoo¹

1755–65; earlier champo to massage < an inflected form of Hindi cāmpnā literally, to press

Word History and Origins

Origin of shampoo¹

C18: from Hindi chāmpo, from chāmpnā to knead

Example Sentences

But, it is a simple truth of advertising that you, as an advertiser, should not want your ad—for shampoo, a scratch-off lottery ticket, a Toyota Camry—to appear next to racist rants and raves.

From Slate

In some parts of the world there’s no option to dance with your mates in a field while holding a lukewarm beer, getting to grips with dry shampoo, shoddy phone signal and chants of ‘Oggy, oggy, oggy, oi, oi, oi’.

From BBC

Maybe it’s your shampoo, maybe your pantry staples, or maybe some other product that you have somewhere, buried deep in the cupboards of your house.

From Slate

One of the most crucial things is having a place to put soap and shampoo.

From Seattle Times

The most common option is a recessed niche, but if you plan to install one, it’s essential to measure your shampoo bottles and ensure that the niche is tall enough.

From Seattle Times

Related Words

• bathe
• brush
• cleanse
• clear up
• disinfect
• dredge
• dust
• mop
• pick
• pick up
• rinse
• scrape
• scrub
• soak
• spruce up
• sweep
• vacuum
• wash
• wipe