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From The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.44 [gcide]:
Mucus \Mu"cus\ (m[=u]"k[u^]s), noun [L. mucus, muccus; cf. mucere to be moldy or musty, Gr. my'xa mucus, and Skr. muc to release. Cf. {Match} for striking fire, {Moist}, {Mucilage}.]
1. (Physiol.) A viscid fluid secreted by mucous membranes, which it serves to moisten and protect. It covers the lining membranes of all the cavities which open externally, such as those of the mouth, nose, lungs, intestinal canal, urinary passages, etc.
2. (Physiol.) Any other animal fluid of a viscid quality, as the synovial fluid, which lubricates the cavities of the joints; -- improperly so used.
3. (Bot.) A gelatinous or slimy substance found in certain alg[ae] and other plants.
From WordNet (r) 2.0 [wn]:
mucus
noun: protective secretion of the mucous membranes; in the gut it lubricates the passage of food and protects the epithelial cells; in the nose and throat and lungs it can make it difficult for bacteria to penetrate the body through the epithelium [syn: {mucous secretion}]
From Moby Thesaurus II by Grady Ward, 1.0 [moby-thes]:
120 Moby Thesaurus words for "mucus": albumen, antifriction, autacoid, batter, bile, black lead, bonnyclabber, butter, carrion, chalone, chyle, clabber, colostrum, cornstarch, corruption, cream, curd, dandruff, decay, digestive secretion, discharge, dough, egg white, endocrine, excrement, filth, foul matter, furfur, gall, gangrene, gastric juice, gaum, gel, gelatin, glair, gleet, glop, glue, gluten, glycerin, goo, gook, goop, graphite, gruel, gumbo, gunk, hormone, humor, ichor, intestinal juice, jam, jell, jelly, lachryma, lactation, leukorrhea, loblolly, lubricant, lubricating oil, lubricator, lymph, matter, mess, milk, molasses, mucilage, muck, mucor, obscenity, ordure, pancreatic juice, pap, paste, peccant humor, phlegm, plumbago, porridge, prostatic fluid, pudding, pulp, puree, purulence, pus, putrid matter, putty, rheum, rob, rot, saliva, salivary secretion, sanies, scurf, scuz, semen, semifluid, semiliquid, serous fluid, serum, silicone, size, slime, smut, snot, sordes, soup, sperm, starch, sticky mess, suppuration, sweat, syrup, tear, teardrop, tears, the whites, thyroxin, treacle, urine, wax
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