viscous
Americanadjective
-
of a glutinous nature or consistency; sticky; thick; adhesive.
-
having the property of viscosity.
adjective
-
(of liquids) thick and sticky; viscid
-
having or involving viscosity
Other Word Forms
- hyperviscous adjective
- pseudoviscous adjective
- viscously adverb
- viscousness noun
Etymology
Origin of viscous
1350–1400; Middle English < Late Latin viscōsus, equivalent to Latin visc ( um ) mistletoe, birdlime (made with mistletoe berries) + -ōsus -ous
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.
The stream of viscous liquid is aimed at a giant stack of pancakes 9 feet high.
From Los Angeles Times
By measuring this delay, scientists could estimate how much energy Titan absorbs as it deforms, offering insight into how thick or viscous its interior must be.
From Science Daily
The taste: We found it sweet and tropical-tasting, slightly viscous but surprisingly refreshing.
From Los Angeles Times
The oil considered "heavy" and highly viscous, meaning that extracting it needs special equipment and knowledge.
From BBC
These results indicate that many volcanoes containing viscous magma may vent gas more effectively than previously assumed.
From Science Daily
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.
