viscous
/'visid/ Cách viết khác : (viscous) /'viskəs/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
- 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
- having the sticky properties of an adhesive
- having a relatively high resistance to flow