viscous

[ vis-kuhs ]

adjective

1. of a glutinous nature or consistency; sticky; thick; adhesive.
2. having the property of viscosity.

viscous

/ ˈvɪskəs /

adjective

1. (of liquids) thick and sticky; viscid
2. having or involving viscosity

viscous

/ vĭs′kəs /

1. Having relatively high resistance to flow (high viscosity ).

Derived Forms

• ˈviscously, adverb
• ˈviscousness, noun

Other Words From

• viscous·ly adverb
• viscous·ness noun
• hyper·viscous adjective
• pseudo·viscous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of viscous¹

1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin viscōsus, equivalent to Latin visc ( um ) mistletoe, birdlime (made with mistletoe berries) + -ōsus -ous

Word History and Origins

Origin of viscous¹

C14: from Late Latin viscōsus; see viscose

Example Sentences

The viscous substance is more effective than water — it hangs up on the vegetation and retains its flame-slowing properties even when it dries, he said.

From Los Angeles Times

Its glacial pace, often accompanied by a viscous sludge it leaves behind, make it a messy if inoffensive kind of pest.

From Los Angeles Times

At one point, she’s stuck in a stretch of viscous black muck at the edge of the lake, a palpably distressing image that draws mockery from her mother-in-law, the fishing crew’s organizer.

From New York Times

A low-viscosity fluid flows fast like water, while a viscous fluid acts more like molasses.

From Science Daily

Chef Lachlan explains that we put oil in a pan to create a viscous layer and to smooth over the micro serrations and micro scratches in the pan.

From Salon

Related Words

• gooey
• slimy
• syrupy