slime

[slahym]

noun

1. thin, glutinous mud.

2. any ropy or viscous liquid matter, especially of a foul kind.

3. a viscous secretion of animal or vegetable origin.

4. Also called slimeball. Slang.,  a repulsive or despicable person.

verb (used with object)

slimed, sliming 

1. to cover or smear with or as if with slime.

2. to remove slime from, as fish for canning.

slime

/ slaɪm /

noun

1. soft thin runny mud or filth

2. any moist viscous fluid, esp when noxious or unpleasant

3. a mucous substance produced by various organisms, such as fish, slugs, and fungi

verb

1. to cover with slime

2. to remove slime from (fish) before canning

slime

1. A slippery or sticky mucous substance secreted by certain animals, such as slugs or snails.

Word History and Origins

Origin of slime¹

before 1000; Middle English slyme, Old English slīm; cognate with Dutch slijm, German Schleim, Old Norse slīm

Word History and Origins

Origin of slime¹

Old English slīm; related to Old Norse slīm, Old High German slīmen to smooth, Russian slimák snail, Latin līmax snail

Example Sentences

It had taken all of her willpower not to wipe the wolf slime from her face until she was sure Mama Woof was not watching.

Read more on Literature

If you’ve been waiting to see a host of big names battling slime and snakes, then look no further.

Read more on BBC

Avila was the correspondent for a 2012 ABC News report on the use of processed meat product known as pink slime, used as filler in ground beef.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

But researchers in the field of swarm robotics are training machines to behave like ants, bees and even slime molds—simple creatures that achieve remarkable feats through collective intelligence.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

The tiny creatures packed together so tightly that they formed a glowing slime, which began oozing into the engines.

Read more on Literature

Related Words

• goo 
• gunk 
• mucus 
• mud 
• sludge 

When To Use

What else does slime mean?

What’s up, slime? Slime is slang for a (usually male) "friend," often used as a term of address, like dude or bro.