VISCOUS


Meaning of VISCOUS in English

ˈviskəs adjective

Etymology: Middle English viscouse, from Late Latin viscosus full of birdlime, sticky, viscous, from Latin viscus, viscum mistletoe, birdlime made from berries of mistletoe + -osus -ose; akin to Greek ixos mistletoe, birdlime, Russian vishnya cherry, Old High German wīhsila mahaleb cherry and perhaps to Old English wāse mire, marsh — more at virus

1.

a. : having a ropy or glutinous consistency and the quality of sticking or adhering : viscid , gelatinous , gluey

b. : having the physical property of viscosity

diesel fuels are more viscous than gasoline — Principles of Automotive Vehicles

2. : suggestive of a gluey substance or mass especially in lacking easy movement or fluidity

the viscous flow of her prose could not cloy a public that feasted on its bright sweetness — J.D.Hart

viscous prose — Edmund Wilson

Webster's New International English Dictionary.      Новый международный словарь английского языка Webster.