# ooze

/ˈuz/ (US) · /ˈuːz/ (UK) · CEFR C2 · Noun

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/ooze
Updated: 2026-05-25

## Definition

a thick, sticky liquid that moves slowly. It is often used to describe something that is unpleasant or messy.

For teachers: a thick, viscous, semi-fluid substance that flows slowly. Often carries a negative connotation of being slimy or unpleasant.

## Examples

- The swamp was full of green ooze.
- After the storm, a thick black ooze began to rise from the cracks in the old sewer pipes.
- The abandoned factory floor was coated in a sticky, tar-like ooze that had seeped through the corroded metal walls over decades of neglect.

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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.