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Definition of mucus

mucus

/ˈmjuːkəs/
mu · cus
Adjective:mucous
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mucus Lexical Profile

mucus Game Scores & Validity

• noun

1

A viscous, slippery secretion produced by mucous membranes and glands, serving to lubricate and protect internal linings of the body against infection or irritation.

Example

"During a respiratory infection, the body produces excess mucus to help trap and expel inhaled pathogens from the airways."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for mucus

Word Nuance & Usage

The noun 'mucus' (the substance itself) is frequently confused with the identically pronounced adjective 'mucous' (pertaining to or secreting the substance, as in 'mucous membrane').

• Rhymes for mucus

• Nearby Words

muck
mucuna
mucuri
mucus
mud
mud loach
mud plantain

Word Origin & Etymology

From Latin 'mucus', meaning 'slime' or 'snot', which shares an Indo-European root with the Greek word 'myxa' (mucus).

Usage Trend

Historical frequency of usage in published text.

180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Mucus. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 15, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/mucus
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