noun Uncommon

sludge

sluhj

Sludge (noun) means Thick, soft, semi-liquid mud, waste, or sediment. Example: “The pipe was clogged with a layer of black sludge.”

noun

Thick, soft, semi-liquid mud, waste, or sediment.

"The pipe was clogged with a layer of black sludge."

"Treatment plants have to dispose of tons of sewage sludge every day."

verb

To move in a slouched, sluggish way.

"He sludged across the room, too tired to lift his feet properly."

How to use sludge

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishThick, gross, semi-liquid gunk, like mud or waste sediment.

Common pairings

toxic sludge sewage sludge a layer of sludge

Word forms

sludged past tense, sludges singular

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The pipe was clogged with a layer of black _____.

Etymology

From Middle English words for mud and mire, ultimately related to the Old English root behind "slush" — sludge and slush share a common muddy ancestor.

Origin: Old English

Synonyms

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goo slime goop gunk muck ooze guck

Related words

money max dirty dirt MUD leak heroin bleed

Rhymes for sludge

judge fudge nudge budge grudge smudge begrudge misjudge

See all rhymes for sludge →

Frequently asked questions

What does “sludge” mean?

The word “sludge” means thick, soft, semi-liquid mud, waste, or sediment. In plain terms, thick, gross, semi-liquid gunk, like mud or waste sediment.

How do you pronounce “sludge”?

“Sludge” is pronounced sluhj (/slʌd͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “sludge” in a sentence?

Here is “sludge” used in a sentence: “The pipe was clogged with a layer of black sludge.”

What part of speech is “sludge”?

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

Where does the word “sludge” come from?

The word “sludge” comes from Old English. From Middle English words for mud and mire, ultimately related to the Old English root behind "slush" — sludge and slush share a common muddy ancestor.

Is “sludge” a common word?

“Sludge” is an uncommon word in modern English.

How many meanings does “sludge” have?

“Sludge” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: thick, soft, semi-liquid mud, waste, or sediment.

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