mucilage

American  

[myoo-suh-lij] / ˈmyu sə lɪdʒ /

noun

1. any of various, usually liquid, preparations of gum, glue, or the like, used as an adhesive.

2. any of various gummy secretions or gelatinous substances present in plants.

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mucilage British  

/ ˈmjuːsɪlɪdʒ, ˌmjuːsɪˈlædʒɪnəs /

noun

1. a sticky preparation, such as gum or glue, used as an adhesive

2. a complex glutinous carbohydrate secreted by certain plants

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Other Word Forms

• mucilaginous adjective
• mucilaginously adverb
• mucilaginousness noun

Etymology

Origin of mucilage

1350–1400; Middle English muscilage < Middle French musillage < Late Latin mūcilāgō a musty juice, akin to mūcēre to be musty. See mucor

Example Sentences

When ripe, the ovoid-shaped fruits detach from the stem and eject the seeds explosively in a high-pressure jet of mucilage.

From Science Daily • Nov. 25, 2024

Key examples are mustard and garlic, which contain "mucilage" — a mix of carbohydrates — that can act as emulsifiers.

From Salon • Jan. 2, 2024

Earlier, a layer of sea mucilage, blamed on soaring temperatures and poor waste management, covered the Sea of Marmara, threatening marine life.

From Seattle Times • Oct. 27, 2021

My favorite is the carnivorous mikinalo, a plant native to Kauai, with stalks oozing bug-trapping mucilage.

From New York Times • Nov. 4, 2020

The red light controlled his eye like a mucilage.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy