mucilage

mu·ci·lage

M0461800 (myo͞o′sə-lĭj)n.1. Any of various viscous, water-soluble polysaccharides produced by certain plants, algae, and microorganisms.2. A sticky substance used as an adhesive.

[Middle English muscilage, from Old French mucilage, from Late Latin mūcilāgō, mūcilāgin-, from Latin mūcēre, to be moldy, musty, from mūcus, mucus.]

mucilage

(ˈmjuːsɪlɪdʒ) n1. (Elements & Compounds) a sticky preparation, such as gum or glue, used as an adhesive2. (Biochemistry) a complex glutinous carbohydrate secreted by certain plants[C14: via Old French from Late Latin mūcilāgo mouldy juice; see mucid] mucilaginous adj ˌmuciˈlaginously adv ˌmuciˈlaginousness n

mu•ci•lage

(ˈmyu sə lɪdʒ)

n. 1. any of various, usu. liquid, preparations of gum, glue, or the like, used as an adhesive. 2. a gummy or gelatinous substance present in plants. [1350–1400; < Middle French musillage < Late Latin mūcilāgō a musty juice, akin to Latin mūcēre to be musty]

Thesaurus

Noun	1.	mucilage - a gelatinous substance secreted by plantsgum - any of various substances (soluble in water) that exude from certain plants; they are gelatinous when moist but harden on drying
	2.	mucilage - cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesiveglue, gumanimal glue - a protein gelatin obtained by boiling e.g. skins and hoofs of cattle and horsescasein glue - made from casein; used for e.g. plywood and cabinetworkfish glue - gelatinous substance obtained by boiling skins fins and bones of fishmarine glue - glue that is not water solublecement - something that hardens to act as adhesive material

Translations

mucilage

enUK

mucilage

(myo͞o`səlĭj), thick, glutinous substance, related to the natural gums, comprised usually of protein, polysaccharides, and uranides. It swells but does not dissolve in water. Mucilage is secreted by the seed covers of various plants, including marsh mallows and flaxes and certain seaweeds; it is the chief constituent of agar. In the plant it sometimes serves to check the loss of water to aid germination, to facilitate seed dispersal, and to store food. It is used in medicine as an emollient and a demulcent. Mucilage is employed also as an adhesive, and the term is extended to include other slimy adhesives, especially solutions of gum, such as tragacanth mucilage.

Mucilage

a substance of plant origin that forms aqueous viscid solutions. Mucilage is found in seeds, roots, and bark, accumulating primarily in mucilage receptacles.

Chemically and physically similar to gums, mucilage contains branched (galactomannans) and linear (glucomannans) polysaccharides. In many forms of vegetation, including flax, plantain, some plants of the Cruciferae family, elm, and rye grain, it contains uronic acid and a variety of neutral carbohydrates. Mucilage is also found in the cell walls and intercellular substances of red and brown algae, for example, in agar, carra-geenin, and alginic acid.

Mucilage’s ability to swell in water enables seeds to absorb water and swell during germination. An accumulation of mucilage in plant tissues increases resistance to drought. Desert plants, such as cacti and spurges, characteristically have a high mucilage content.

Mucilage is used in the medical, pharmacological, food-processing, and metallurgical industries and in the production of paper, textiles, emulsions, and glues.

REFERENCES

See references under .

N. D. GABRIELIAN

mucilage

[′myü·sə·lij] (materials) A sticky material employed as an adhesive. A gummy material derived from plants.

mucilage

1. An adhesive prepared from a gum and water. 2. A liquid adhesive which has low bonding strength.

mucilage

1. a sticky preparation, such as gum or glue, used as an adhesive 2. a complex glutinous carbohydrate secreted by certain plants

mucilage

[mu´sĭ-lij] an aqueous solution of a gummy substance, used as a vehicle or soothing agent. adj., adj mucilag´inous.

mu·ci·lage

(myū'si-lij), A pharmacopeial preparation consisting of a solution in water of the mucilaginous principles of vegetable substances; used as a soothing application to the mucous membranes and in the preparation of official and extemporaneous mixtures. [L. mucilago]

mu·ci·lage

(myū'si-lăj) A pharmacopeial preparation consisting of a solution in water of the mucilaginous principles of vegetable substances; used as a soothing application to the mucous membranes and in the preparation of official and extemporaneous mixtures. [L. mucilago]

mucilage

a complex of polysaccharides which becomes slimy when wet, when it swells and retains water. It is secreted by many animals, plants and bacteria.

mu·ci·lage

(myū'si-lăj) Pharmacopeial preparation consisting of a solution with mucilaginous principles of vegetable substances.

mucilage

mu·ci·lage

mucilage

mu•ci•lage

mucilage

mucilage

Mucilage

REFERENCES

mucilage

mucilage

mucilage

mucilage

mucilage

mu·ci·lage

mu·ci·lage

mucilage

mu·ci·lage

mucilage

Synonyms for mucilage

noun a gelatinous substance secreted by plants

Related Words

noun cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive

Synonyms

Related Words