Library / English Dictionary

VISCOSITY

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Resistance of a liquid to shear forces (and hence to flow)

Synonyms:

viscosity; viscousness

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Hypernyms ("viscosity" is a kind of...):

body; consistence; consistency; substance (the property of holding together and retaining its shape)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "viscosity"):

stickiness (the property of sticking to a surface)

sliminess (a property resembling or being covered with slime)

cohesiveness; glueyness; gluiness; gumminess; ropiness; tackiness; viscidity; viscidness (the property of being cohesive and sticky)

gelatinousness; glutinosity; glutinousness (the property of having a viscosity like jelly)

Derivation:

viscous (having a relatively high resistance to flow)

Credits

 Context examples: 

A semisynthetic, high viscosity polymer used as a food additive which may have the ability to lower total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C).

(Hydroxypropyl Methylcellulose D, NCI Thesaurus)

The researchers reported inventing a coating good at resisting substances that are sticky and vary profoundly in viscosity across their mass—like human fecal matter.

(Materials scientists invent new coating for self-cleaning, water-efficient toilets, Wikinews)

A low viscosity liquid by-product of the distillation of petroleum consisting of a mixture of alkanes in the C15 to C40 range.

(Light Mineral Oil, NCI Thesaurus)

This agent reduces the viscosity of mucus secretion by reducing adhesiveness and surface tension as well as increasing hydration of mucus.

(Guaifenesin, NCI Thesaurus)

Any agent that promotes ejection of mucus or exudate from the lungs, bronchi and trachea by decreasing mucus viscosity or by increasing the secretion of mucus in a dry, unproductive cough.

(Expectorant, NCI Thesaurus)

A CGS unit of dynamic viscosity equal to 10E-3 pascal second.

(Centipoise, NCI Thesaurus)

In their studies, the researchers used lung tissue from patients with cystic fibrosis, as well as pig models of cystic fibrosis, and found that amphotericin spurred a host of changes associated with improved lung function — restoration of pH levels, improved viscosity, and increased antibacterial activity, among others.

(Scientists find new approach that shows promise for treating cystic fibrosis, National Institutes of Health)

A semi-solid with viscosity similar to that of a lotion, which is intended for topical use and must be rubbed into the site of administration to release the active and/or inert ingredient(s).

(Liniment Dosage Form, NCI Thesaurus)

Linear polysaccharides composed of disaccharide repeating units of glycosamine-glycans, two monosaccharide units (hexosamine and the repeating disaccharide of either hexuronate or galactose) located on the surface of cells or in the extracellular matrix contributing to adhesion, elasticity, and viscosity of extracellular substances.

(Glycosaminoglycan, NCI Thesaurus)

A glucosaminoglycan consisting of D-glucuronic acid and N-acetyl-D-glucosamine disaccharide units that is a component of connective tissue, skin, vitreous humour, umbilical cord, synovial fluid and the capsule of certain microorganisms contributing to adhesion, elasticity, and viscosity of extracellular substances.

(Hyaluronic Acid, NCI Thesaurus)