Viscous: Definition, Usage & Common Examples

Meaning 1：thick and sticky (viscous)

viscous 🔊

/ˈvɪskəs/

adj.

A liquid that is thick and sticky, and doesn't pour easily like water.

Viscous fluid example: golden honey flowing slowly from a jar onto toast

thick and sticky 🔊

➕

/θɪk ænd ˈstɪki/

adj.

Describes a fluid, especially a liquid, that has a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid, causing it to flow very slowly.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'viscum' (mistletoe, birdlime), referring to a sticky substance.

💡 Mnemonic

Viscous liquids are very slow, like a snail in sticky glue. Think: 'This glue is VISCOUS' (Very Incredibly Slow & Clogged, Oozing Unbelievably Slowly).

📖 Example

The painter had to use a wide brush because the viscous paint flowed very slowly from the can. 🔊 The painter had to use a wide brush because the thick and sticky paint flowed very slowly from the can.

🔗 Collocations

viscous fluid – A thick, slow-moving liquid.

viscous material – A substance with a thick, sticky consistency.

highly viscous – Extremely thick and resistant to flow.

🔄 Synonyms

thick (adj.) – Having a dense consistency; not flowing easily.

sticky (adj.) – Tending to adhere to surfaces; glutinous.

glutinous (adj.) – Having a glue-like quality; thick and sticky.

🚫 Antonyms

thin (adj.) – Having a low viscosity; flowing easily, like water.

watery (adj.) – Containing a lot of water; very fluid and not thick.

🌱 Derivatives

viscosity (n.) – The state of being viscous; the measure of a fluid's resistance to flow.

📖 Cultural Story

The word 'viscous' originates from the Latin 'viscum', which referred to mistletoe and the sticky birdlime made from its berries. This connection to a naturally sticky plant substance directly informs its modern meaning describing thick, slow-flowing liquids.