# goo

/ˈɡu/ (US) · /ɡˈuː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/goo
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. sticky substance

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal

a thick, sticky, or slimy substance that is often messy or unpleasant.

For teachers: a viscous, semi-solid, or liquid substance, typically one that is sticky, gummy, or slippery and of indeterminate composition.

- I stepped in some green goo on the pavement and ruined my new shoes.
- The mechanic emerged from under the chassis covered in a thick black goo that smelled strongly of burnt oil and old coolant.

### 2. baby sounds

noun · CEFR C1 · Informal

the soft, bubbling noises a baby makes when they are happy or trying to talk.

For teachers: an onomatopoeic representation of the soft, gurgling vocalisations made by an infant.

- The baby let out a happy little goo when her father walked into the room.
- The infant responded to the colourful mobile with a series of delighted goos and gurgles, much to the parents' amusement.

### 3. sentimentality

noun · CEFR C2 · Informal

feelings or stories that are too sweet, romantic, or emotional in a way that feels fake.

For teachers: excessive or cloying sentimentality, often perceived as insincere or overly showy.

- The movie was full of romantic goo that made me want to leave the cinema.
- Critics dismissed the novel as sentimental goo, arguing that the author relied on cheap emotional tricks rather than genuine character development.

### 4. to talk like a baby

verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to make soft, happy sounds like a baby.

For teachers: to produce infant-like vocalisations or baby talk; often used in the phrase 'goo and gurgle'.

- The grandparents spent the whole afternoon gooing at the new baby.
- It is common for adults to begin gooing and cooing instinctively when presented with a smiling infant.

## Examples

- The kids got green goo all over the carpet.
- After the pipe leaked, a strange black goo started oozing from the corner of the basement floor.
- The scientist carefully scraped the bioluminescent goo from the cave wall, hoping the sticky secretion contained the enzymes needed for her research.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.