phlegm

[ flem ]

noun

1. the thick mucus secreted in the respiratory passages and discharged through the mouth, especially that occurring in the lungs and throat passages, as during a cold.
2. one of the four elemental bodily humors of medieval physiology, regarded as causing sluggishness or apathy.
3. sluggishness, indifference, or apathy.

   Synonyms: impassiveness

   Antonyms: concern, animation

4. self-possession, calmness, or composure.

phlegm

/ flɛm /

noun

1. the viscid mucus secreted by the walls of the respiratory tract
2. archaic.
   one of the four bodily humours
3. apathy; stolidity; indifference
4. self-possession; imperturbability; coolness

phlegm

/ flĕm /

1. Thick mucus produced by the mucous membranes of the respiratory tract, as during a cold or other respiratory infection.

Derived Forms

• ˈphlegmy, adjective

Other Words From

• phlegmless adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of phlegm¹

1350–1400; Middle English fleem < Middle French flemme < Late Latin phlegma < Greek phlégma flame, phlegmatic humor, equivalent to phlég ( ein ) to burn + -ma resultative noun suffix

Word History and Origins

Origin of phlegm¹

C14: from Old French fleume, from Late Latin phlegma, from Greek: inflammation, from phlegein to burn

Example Sentences

If pathogens make it through your airways to the lungs, those pathogens can get stuck on phlegm.

From Science News For Students

Jellyfish snot can hurt people who never touch the animalGood germs lurk in gross placesThis tube worm’s glowing slime may help sustain its own shineFor coughing up phlegm, water is keyAh-choo!

From Science News For Students

In a world of physicians who thought you only needed to balance your humors in order to be well, Santorio wanted to know exactly how much phlegm was going into the equation.

From Popular-Science

I was never sure whether this was phlegm or the onset of lunacy.

From The Daily Beast

There was a busy, bustling, disputatious tone about it, instead of the accustomed phlegm and drowsy tranquillity.

From The Daily Beast

So after my father died I wrote a book, Fathers and Sons, with the intention of casting the Wavian phlegm out of my system.

From The Daily Beast

The music and dancing are as dull as might be expected among beings so full of phlegm.

From Project Gutenberg

The Schoolmaster held his own horse and Lass, startled out of her peaceful phlegm by the terrifying roar and heat.

From Project Gutenberg

It is occasioned by the corruption of the meat, and the corruption of phlegm with a choleric humour.

From Project Gutenberg

Sometimes it happeneth by reason of the shrinking of certain sinews which go to the tongue, which are corrupted with phlegm.

From Project Gutenberg

It proceeds from a weakness of the spirits, or because warmth of digestion cause phlegm to abound in them.

From Project Gutenberg