noun
mucus
MYOO-kus/ˈmjuːkəs/
A slippery fluid that protects and moistens the body's internal linings.
Mucus keeps the inside of your nose moist and traps dust.
Etymology
Latin mucus named slime as well as nasal discharge. The English sense focuses that slimy-fluid idea on the secretion produced by the body's mucous membranes.
In context
And that weapon is mucus. Yup, the same gooey, slimy snot that clogs up your tissue and runs out of your nose when you have a cold or allergies.
More examples
- A cold can cause your nose to produce extra mucus.
- A layer of mucus protects the stomach lining from acid.
- Tiny hairs help move mucus out of the airways.
Forms
mucous adjective — Relating to or producing protective mucus.