viscous
[ vis-kuh s ]
/ ˈvɪs kəs /
adjective
of a glutinous nature or consistency; sticky; thick; adhesive.
having the property of viscosity.
RELATED CONTENT
Nearby words
viscount, viscount melville sound, viscountcy, viscountess, viscounty, viscous, viscous flow, viscously, visct, visct., viscus
Also viscose.
Origin of viscous
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin viscōsus, equivalent to Latin visc(um) mistletoe, birdlime (made with mistletoe berries) + -ōsus -ous
Related formsvis·cous·ly, adverbvis·cous·ness, nounhy·per·vis·cous, adjectivepseu·do·vis·cous, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019
Examples from the Web for viscous
British Dictionary definitions for viscous
viscous
viscose
/ (ˈvɪskəs) /
adjective
(of liquids) thick and sticky; viscid
having or involving viscosity
Derived Formsviscously, adverbviscousness, noun
Word Origin for viscous
C14: from Late Latin viscōsus; see viscose
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for viscous
viscous
late 14c., from Anglo-French viscous, from Late Latin viscosus "sticky," from Latin viscum "anything sticky, birdlime made from mistletoe, mistletoe," probably from PIE root *weis- "to melt away, flow" (used of foul or malodorous fluids); see virus.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
Medicine definitions for viscous
viscous
[ vĭs′kəs ]
adj.
Having relatively high resistance to flow.
Viscid.
The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Science definitions for viscous
viscous
[ vĭs′kəs ]
Having relatively high resistance to flow (high viscosity).
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.