flocculent

[ flok-yuh-luhnt ]

adjective

1. like a clump or tuft of wool.
2. covered with a soft, woolly substance.
3. consisting of or containing loose woolly masses.
4. flocky.
5. Chemistry. consisting of flocs and floccules.

flocculent

/ ˈflɒkjʊlənt /

adjective

1. like wool; fleecy
2. chem aggregated in woolly cloudlike masses

   a flocculent precipitate

3. biology covered with tufts or flakes of a waxy or wool-like substance

Derived Forms

• ˈflocculence, noun
• ˈflocculently, adverb

Other Words From

• floccu·lence floccu·len·cy noun
• floccu·lent·ly adverb

Word History and Origins

Origin of flocculent¹

First recorded in 1790–1800; flocc(us) + -ulent

Example Sentences

They invariably come laden with words that seem meant to prove his vocabulary is bigger than yours: flocculent, crapulent, caducous, anaglypta, mephitic, velutinous.

From New York Times

We pirouetted through methane bubbles and scooped up flocculent microbial samples.

From The New Yorker

“A vast, flocculent cloud darkened and devitalized the city, mimicking the family mood like weather does in memories.”

From New York Times

The EPA has been building settling ponds to catch and treat the waste water with caustic soda and flocculent, officials said.

From Reuters

Randall got a head start on the others and sports an impressive flocculent dark black mane.

From Reuters