mucilage
Americannoun
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any of various, usually liquid, preparations of gum, glue, or the like, used as an adhesive.
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any of various gummy secretions or gelatinous substances present in plants.
noun
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a sticky preparation, such as gum or glue, used as an adhesive
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a complex glutinous carbohydrate secreted by certain plants
Other Word Forms
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
December to March were lean times, but the fishing crews were holding out hope that warmer weather would dissipate the mucilage as it had in the past.
From New York Times ● Jul. 9, 2021
The red light controlled his eye like a mucilage.
From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
