Definition
adjective
Of, pertaining to, or relating to viscosity
Supplement
The term viscous is a descriptive word used in describing a liquid that is not pouring freely. A liquid that is viscous has a thick and sticky consistency. It is related to viscosity, which refers to the physical property of fluids that determines the internal resistance to shear forces.
Examples of terms with the word viscous related to biology are as follows:
- Viscous mechanical coupling. In cell biology, the term viscous mechanical coupling pertains to the method by which adjacent cilia are synchronised in a field. Coupling is through the transmission of mechanical forces, rather than of a synchronising signal.
- Viscous fermentation. In microbiology, the term viscous fermentation refers to the formation of a viscous material such as in urine, milk, or wine through the bacterial action of certain bacilli.
- Viscous metamorphosis. The term viscous metamorphosis pertains to the process in which the platelets undergo a series of reactions mediated by thrombin and connective tissue resulting in the membrane fusion between adjacent platelets.
Word origin: French visqueux, Latin viscōsus, viscum (birdlime)
Variant(s):
- viscose
Synonym(s):
Related term(s):
- Viscous mechanical coupling
- viscosity
Mentioned in:
