Word
viscosity
Phoneticsvis·cos·i·ty, stress on the second syllable
US/vɪˈskɑsəti/
UK/vɪskˈɒsɪti/
Definitions
01thickness of a liquid
C1 · Advanced Uncountable noun Science Technical
n. the quality of being thick, sticky, and slow to flow.
n. the state or quality of being viscous; the degree to which a fluid resists flow due to internal friction.
“Honey has a much higher viscosity than water, so it pours more slowly.”
“Engineers must carefully monitor the viscosity of the motor oil to ensure it remains effective at high temperatures.”
Usage
Uncountable when referring to the general property of a substance.
Antonyms
02a measurement of flow resistance
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Science Technical
n. a specific measurement of how much a liquid resists moving.
n. a quantitative measure of a fluid's resistance to gradual deformation by shear stress or tensile stress.
“The lab report listed the exact viscosity of the new chemical at room temperature.”
“The experiment required precise calculations of the fluid's dynamic viscosity to predict its behavior under pressure.”
Usage
Countable when referring to specific numerical values or different types of measurements.
Synonyms
03social persistence
C2 · Proficiency Uncountable noun Technical · Academic
n. a person's tendency to keep a conversation or meeting going for a long time.
n. a psychological tendency to prolong interpersonal encounters or difficulty in shifting from one social interaction to another.
“The doctor noted the patient's social viscosity during their long, repetitive conversation.”
“In clinical psychology, social viscosity may be observed in patients who struggle to recognize social cues indicating the end of an interaction.”
Synonyms
Real-World Examples
“Two features struck her: The pitcher fluid seemed thick and resistant to flow—it had fairly high viscosity, in physics terms.” “They focus on a material's viscosity, or, in other words, how thick and slow-flowing it is.” Etymology
From Middle French viscosité, from Old French viscosité, from Medieval Latin viscositas; analysable as viscous + -ity.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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QR code
englishreference.com/q/viscosity