- Today's Word
Viscous
VIS-kuhs
Definition
- (adjective) Having a thick, sticky consistency that resists flow; syrupy.
Example
The viscous honey clung to the spoon, dripping slowly into the jar.
Fun Fact
“Viscous” comes from the Latin word viscum, meaning “birdlime,” a sticky substance made from mistletoe berries used to trap birds. In physics, viscosity refers to a liquid’s resistance to flow, with honey and molasses being prime examples of high-viscosity substances. The word has also been metaphorically extended to describe sluggish or slow-moving processes.
(adjective) Loud, harsh, and disorderly; boisterous in a rough or disruptive way.
The forest erupted in a raucous chorus of crows as hikers approached the clearing.
From Latin raucus, meaning “hoarse” or “harsh-sounding.”