Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Having a thick, sticky consistency between solid and liquid; resistant to flow: Describes a fluid that does not flow easily, like honey or syrup.
   • Having the sticky, adhesive quality of glue: Describes something that is glutinous and tends to adhere to surfaces.

Usage

• The word viscous is primarily used to describe the physical property of fluids and semi-fluids. It is a technical term common in physics, chemistry, and engineering, but also used in everyday contexts to describe thick liquids.
• It describes a state, not an action. Common collocations include: , , , , .

Examples

• Adjective:
  • Honey is more viscous than water, so it pours slowly.
  • The mechanic used a special viscous oil for the gearbox.
  • As the lava cooled, it became increasingly viscous and slowed its advance.

Advanced Usage

• Scientific/Technical Context: In fluid dynamics, viscosity is a measurable property. A high-viscosity fluid (like tar) is viscous.
  • The experiment measured the viscous forces acting on the sphere as it moved through the fluid.
• Metaphorical Use: Can be used metaphorically to describe something slow-moving or resistant to change.
  • The viscous pace of bureaucracy frustrated the applicants. (This usage is less common but acceptable.)

Variants and Related Words

• Viscosity (n): The state of being viscous; the measure of a fluid's resistance to flow.
  • The viscosity of the engine oil is critical for proper lubrication.
• Viscid (adj): A close synonym, often used interchangeably with viscous, especially in biological contexts (e.g., ).
• Viscoelastic (adj): Having both viscous and elastic properties (e.g., silly putty).

Synonyms

• Thick
• Sticky
• Glutinous
• Gummy
• Syrupy
• Treacly (chiefly British)

Antonyms

• Watery
• Thin
• Runny
• Fluid (in the sense of free-flowing)

Adjective

1. having the sticky properties of an adhesive
2. having a relatively high resistance to flow