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.
"Showing that viscous effects are enough to promote solid-like fracture behavior opens a world of new questions to explore in this area of scientific inquiry."
From Science Daily • Mar. 30, 2026
A resurgence of Venezuela's industry could pose problems for Canada, which produces similarly viscous oil and exports much of it to the US, but analysts reckon the risk is minor.
From BBC • Feb. 15, 2026
Indigenous people and Spanish settlers utilized the viscous goo for medicinal purposes and waterproofing boats.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 15, 2026
Under that scenario, the corresponding price tag on the heavy, viscous crude pumped in Venezuela would be in the high-$30s range.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 20, 2026
She brought me a vast, viscous, canary-yellow wedge of lemon pie.
From "A Walk in the Woods" by Bill Bryson
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.
