mucilage
noun
mu·ci·lage ˈmyü-s(ə-)lij 
1
: a gelatinous substance of various plants (such as legumes or seaweeds) that contains protein and polysaccharides and is similar to plant gums
2
: an aqueous usually viscid solution (as of a gum) used especially as an adhesive
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Like the biofilm around the rice roots, this mucilage houses nitrogen-fixing bacteria. 
Matt Simon, WIRED, 30 Aug. 2022 One day in July, the mucilage suddenly disappeared. Jenna Scatena, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2021 But in the early 2000s, marine mucilage started breaking out pretty much every year, which scientists, in a 2009 paper, linked to climate change. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 21 June 2021 The mucilage is spreading to the Black Sea and the Aegean, said Mr. Kesici, the hydrobiologist. New York Times, 9 July 2021 The problem first came to light in November, when Mr. Sari was flooded with urgent calls from local fishermen about the mucilage. New York Times, 9 July 2021 Turkey has seen a growing layer of marine mucilage drying and decomposing on the Sea of Marmara's surface for the last several months. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2021 Reducing pollution would likely remove the root of the problem; mucilage outbreaks in the Adriatic Sea have become less common since Italy began treating its wastewater, per the Atlantic. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2021 But pollution alone doesn’t explain the appearance of so much sea snot—or marine mucilage, to use the scientific term. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 21 June 2021 See More
Matt Simon, WIRED, 30 Aug. 2022 One day in July, the mucilage suddenly disappeared. Jenna Scatena, The Atlantic, 18 Dec. 2021 But in the early 2000s, marine mucilage started breaking out pretty much every year, which scientists, in a 2009 paper, linked to climate change. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 21 June 2021 The mucilage is spreading to the Black Sea and the Aegean, said Mr. Kesici, the hydrobiologist. New York Times, 9 July 2021 The problem first came to light in November, when Mr. Sari was flooded with urgent calls from local fishermen about the mucilage. New York Times, 9 July 2021 Turkey has seen a growing layer of marine mucilage drying and decomposing on the Sea of Marmara's surface for the last several months. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2021 Reducing pollution would likely remove the root of the problem; mucilage outbreaks in the Adriatic Sea have become less common since Italy began treating its wastewater, per the Atlantic. Theresa Machemer, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 June 2021 But pollution alone doesn’t explain the appearance of so much sea snot—or marine mucilage, to use the scientific term. Sarah Zhang, The Atlantic, 21 June 2021 See More Word History
Etymology
Middle English muscilage, from Late Latin mucilago mucus, musty juice, from Latin mucus
First Known Use
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
mucilage
noun
mu·ci·lage ˈmyü-sə-lij
: a water solution of a gum or similar substance used especially to stick things together
Medical Definition
mucilage
noun
mu·ci·lage ˈmyü-s(ə-)lij
1
: a gelatinous substance of various plants (as legumes or seaweeds) that contains protein and polysaccharides and is similar to plant gums
2
: an aqueous usually viscid solution (as of a gum) used in pharmacy as an excipient and in medicine as a demulcent
mucilage
noun
as in adhesive
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- adhesive
- epoxy
- glue
- epoxy resin
- paste
- water glass
- gum
- superglue
- cement
- library paste
- size
- goo
- dope
- bond