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
1
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
1
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 notesIn plain EnglishThick, gross, semi-liquid gunk, like mud or waste sediment.
Common pairings
toxic sludge
sewage sludge
a layer of sludge
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- sludges
- Past tense
- sludged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
Related words
Rhymes for sludge
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.
