Viscous

VIS-kuhs

Definition

  1. (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.