mucilaginous

[ myoo-suh-laj-uh-nuhs ]

adjective

1. of, relating to, or secreting mucilage.
2. of the nature of or resembling mucilage; moist, soft, and viscid.

Other Words From

• muci·lagi·nous·ly adverb
• nonmu·ci·lagi·nous adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of mucilaginous¹

1640–50; < Late Latin mūcilāgin- (stem of mūcilāgō ) mucilage + -ous

Example Sentences

The slick surface of seaweeds such as seaweed and kelp is attributed to alginate, a mucilaginous substance.

From Science Daily

That impulse is countered by the mantle, the mucilaginous layer above the outer core and below Earth’s crust, the immense gravitational field of which grasps the inner core and slows its spin.

From New York Times

When ground and combined with water, flaxseed's mucilaginous superpowers kick into high gear, yielding an elastic, sticky consistency much like beaten egg that's known as flax egg.

From Salon

The setting agent As the name suggests, the first marshmallows were set with the mucilaginous root of the marsh mallow plant, which McGee describes as “the weedy relative of the hollyhock”.

From The Guardian

Their complaints about it all boil down to the same thing: okra is slimy, glutinous, gummy, gooey, mucilaginous.

From The Guardian