mucilage
Americannoun
-
any of various, usually liquid, preparations of gum, glue, or the like, used as an adhesive.
-
any of various gummy secretions or gelatinous substances present in plants.
noun
-
a sticky preparation, such as gum or glue, used as an adhesive
-
a complex glutinous carbohydrate secreted by certain plants
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
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
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
The dead fish had gills clogged with mucilage, Mr. Sari said, but the larger, unseen disaster was a breakdown of the food chain.
From New York Times • Jul. 9, 2021
The red light controlled his eye like a mucilage.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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.
