Mucus

3 definitions found

From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48 [gcide]:

  Mucus \Mu"cus\ (m[=u]"k[u^]s), n. [L. mucus, muccus; cf. mucere
     to be moldy or musty, Gr. my`xa mucus, and Skr. muc to
     release. Cf. {Match} for striking fire, {Moist}, {Mucilage}.]
     1. (Physiol.) A viscid fluid secreted by mucous membranes,
        which it serves to moisten and protect. It covers the
        lining membranes of all the cavities which open


        externally, such as those of the mouth, nose, lungs,
        intestinal canal, urinary passages, etc.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     2. (Physiol.) Any other animal fluid of a viscid quality, as
        the synovial fluid, which lubricates the cavities of the
        joints; -- improperly so used.
        [1913 Webster]
  
     3. (Bot.) A gelatinous or slimy substance found in certain
        algae and other plants.
        [1913 Webster]

From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:

  mucus
       n : protective secretion of the mucous membranes; in the gut it
           lubricates the passage of food and protects the
           epithelial cells; in the nose and throat and lungs it can
           make it difficult for bacteria to penetrate the body
           through the epithelium [syn: {mucous secretion}]

From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:

  120 Moby Thesaurus words for "mucus":
     albumen, antifriction, autacoid, batter, bile, black lead,
     bonnyclabber, butter, carrion, chalone, chyle, clabber, colostrum,
     cornstarch, corruption, cream, curd, dandruff, decay,
     digestive secretion, discharge, dough, egg white, endocrine,
     excrement, filth, foul matter, furfur, gall, gangrene,
     gastric juice, gaum, gel, gelatin, glair, gleet, glop, glue,
     gluten, glycerin, goo, gook, goop, graphite, gruel, gumbo, gunk,
     hormone, humor, ichor, intestinal juice, jam, jell, jelly,
     lachryma, lactation, leukorrhea, loblolly, lubricant,
     lubricating oil, lubricator, lymph, matter, mess, milk, molasses,
     mucilage, muck, mucor, obscenity, ordure, pancreatic juice, pap,
     paste, peccant humor, phlegm, plumbago, porridge, prostatic fluid,
     pudding, pulp, puree, purulence, pus, putrid matter, putty, rheum,
     rob, rot, saliva, salivary secretion, sanies, scurf, scuz, semen,
     semifluid, semiliquid, serous fluid, serum, silicone, size, slime,
     smut, snot, sordes, soup, sperm, starch, sticky mess, suppuration,
     sweat, syrup, tear, teardrop, tears, the whites, thyroxin, treacle,
     urine, wax