noun
rheum
ROOM/rum/
Watery or mucus discharge from the eyes or nose.
She gently wipes the rheum from her eyes each morning.
Etymology
Greek rheuma meant both a flowing current and a bodily discharge. The English sense preserves that fluid image in the watery matter discharged from the eyes, nose, or mouth.
In context
basically morning mucus, eye boogers, or there's a medical term for it, rheum. Basically, it's kind of uh solidified tears that have been there overnight.
More examples
- A cold leaves rheum around his nostrils.
- The nurse cleans the rheum from the patient's eyelids.
- Dried rheum collects in the corners of my eyes.
Forms
rheumy adjective — Watery or coated with eye discharge.