mucus
Americannoun
noun
Etymology
Origin of mucus
1655–65; < Latin mūcus snot; akin to Greek myktḗr nose, mýxa slime
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Explanation
Mucus is snot and other slime from inside your body. More specifically, mucus is a secretion of your body's mucus membranes that lubricates the inside of your body and helps protect you from bacteria. You’re welcome. Even the history of the word mucus is gross — roots from Greek and Latin all mean “snot” and “slippery, slimy.” Mucus drips out of your nose and even slips down your throat when you’re sick. This happens because your membranes produce too much mucus when you’re sick. Mucus isn’t all bad though — your body uses it to help food go down your throat easier, and it keeps bacteria out. Mucus is gross, but germs are worse!
Vocabulary lists containing mucus
Human Anatomy and Physiology - Introductory
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Human Anatomy and Physiology - High School
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The Hot Zone
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Mucus is a notoriously challenging substance to study because it exhibits both liquid-like and solid-like properties, Aronson explained.
From Science Daily • Dec. 5, 2023
Mucus secretions trap and rinse pathogens out of the body.
From Textbooks • Jun. 9, 2022
Mucus runs down her face undisturbed for two minutes, an eternity, its very presence signaling something terribly wrong.
From New York Times • Apr. 12, 2022
Mucus holds a special place among bodily fluids.
From Slate • Mar. 29, 2022
Mucus surfaces, under chronic irritation, are electrically negative.
From A Newly Discovered System of Electrical Medication by Clark, Daniel
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
