slime-gland

A snail secretes a sticky substance from its slime-gland as it moves.

Definition

Noun: A "slime-gland" is a gland in certain animals, especially mollusks, that secretes a viscous, slippery substance known as slime.

Usage Examples

• (The gland in the snail secretes the slime used for locomotion.)
• (The gland’s secretion acts as a defense mechanism.)

Advanced Usage

• "slime-gland secretion": the specific fluid produced by the slime-gland.
  • The slime-gland secretion is rich in glycoproteins, which give it its adhesive properties. (The chemical composition of the slime produced by the gland.)

Variants and Related Words

• Slime (n): a thick, slippery, often sticky substance.
  • The garden path was covered in slime after the rain. (A wet, slippery layer on the ground.)
• Gland (n): an organ in the body that produces and releases substances such as hormones or mucus.
  • The salivary gland produces saliva to help with digestion. (A type of gland that secretes digestive fluids.)

Synonyms

• Mucus gland: a gland that produces mucus, a similar slippery substance.
• Secretory gland: any gland that releases a fluid, though not specifically slime.

Related Idioms