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noun Uncommon

slime

slym

Slime (noun) means a thick, sticky, wet substance, such as the mucus produced by snails or slugs. Example: “The snail left a trail of slime across the pavement.”

noun
1
A thick, sticky, wet substance, such as the mucus produced by snails or slugs.
"The snail left a trail of slime across the pavement."
2
A soft, stretchy toy substance made from polymers, popular with children.
"The kids spent the afternoon mixing glue and borax to make homemade slime."
3
(informal) A dishonest or unpleasant person.
"Everyone in the office knew he was a slime who'd throw colleagues under the bus."
verb
1
To coat something with slime, or to disparage and undermine someone.
"The tabloids slimed the actor with a string of unfounded rumours."

How to use slime

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA sticky, wet substance — literal (mucus, mud) or a stretchy toy — and, informally, a slippery, dishonest person.

Common pairings
trail of slime homemade slime total slime

Word forms

slimed past tense, slimes plural, slimes singular

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The snail left a trail of _____ across the pavement.

Etymology

From Old English slīm, an ancient Germanic word related to Latin limus, "mud" — both trace back to a root meaning "smooth, sticky."

Origin: Latin

Related words

Rhymes for slime

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Frequently asked questions

What does “slime” mean?

The word “slime” means a thick, sticky, wet substance, such as the mucus produced by snails or slugs. In plain terms, a sticky, wet substance — literal (mucus, mud) or a stretchy toy — and, informally, a slippery, dishonest person.

How do you pronounce “slime”?

“Slime” is pronounced slym (/slaɪm/ in IPA).

How do you use “slime” in a sentence?

Here is “slime” used in a sentence: “The snail left a trail of slime across the pavement.”

What part of speech is “slime”?

Depending on how it is used, “slime” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “slime” come from?

The word “slime” comes from Latin. From Old English slīm, an ancient Germanic word related to Latin limus, "mud" — both trace back to a root meaning "smooth, sticky.".

Is “slime” a common word?

“Slime” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “slime” have?

“Slime” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a thick, sticky, wet substance, such as the mucus produced by snails or slugs.

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Definitions: FreeDict original editorial