In cleaning, this term refers to separation of soil from a surface on which it is deposited, normally accomplished with alkalinity and detergent action assisted by mechanical agitation. (this is basically the
IICRC definition)
More accurately though, it means to take certain bound-together soils-which are clumped together(agglomerated), and to caused to disperse it into small particles, whilst chemically utilizing a "deflocculant" material to add like electrostatic charges that causes these particles to remain suspended and apart in the solution (actually a colloidal).