Word Adjective
viscous
adj.
C1 Advanced US /ˈvɪskəs/ UK /vˈɪskəs/ vis·cous
Definition
adj.describing a liquid that is thick and flows very slowly, like honey or syrup.
adj.having a high resistance to flow; describing a fluid that exhibits significant internal friction when subjected to shear stress.
Examples
“Honey is a viscous liquid.”
“The engineer tested the viscous properties of the new oil to ensure it would protect the engine in extreme cold.”
Real-world usage
“The most viscous materials showed solid-like behavior over short times but eventually flowed over longer times, confirming their viscoelastic nature.”
Etymology
First attested in 1605. Borrowed from Middle French visqueux and Late Latin viscōsus, from Latin viscum (“birdlime”). Doublet of viscose.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
This entry
Origin Latin viscum
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated