rheum
rheum Lexical Profile
rheum Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A watery fluid or thin mucus discharged from the eyes or nose, especially during sleep or due to a cold or old age.
"The elderly dog had a slight buildup of rheum in the corners of its eyes after waking up."
An archaic or literary term for a head cold, catarrh, or rheumatic ailment.
"In the damp winter months, the old sailor often complained of a persistent rheum settling in his chest and joints."
Any vigorous herbaceous perennial plant of the genus Rheum in the family Polygonaceae, native to Eurasia and including culinary rhubarb and ornamental species cultivated for their large palmate leaves and tall, showy panicles of small white, pink, or crimson flowers.
Word Nuance & Usage
Pronounced identically to 'room' (/ruːm/), not to be confused with the layout of a building.
• Rhymes for rheum
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
From Old French reume, via Late Latin rheuma from Ancient Greek rheuma ('a stream, current, or bodily discharge'), derived from the verb rhein ('to flow').
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.