phlegm

• POS: Noun

CIDE DICTIONARY

phlegm, n. [F. phlegme, flegme, L. phlegma, fr. Gr. a flame, inflammation, phlegm, a morbid, clammy humor in the body, fr. to burn. Cf. Phlox, Flagrant, Flame, Bleak, a., and Fluminate.].

•  One of the four humors of which the ancients supposed the blood to be composed. See Humor.  Arbuthnot.  [1913 Webster]
•  Viscid mucus secreted in abnormal quantity in the respiratory and digestive passages.  [1913 Webster]
•  A watery distilled liquor, in distinction from a spirituous liquor.  Crabb.  [1913 Webster]
•  Sluggishness of temperament; dullness; want of interest; indifference; coldness.  [1913 Webster]

  "They judge with fury, but they write with phlegm."  [1913 Webster]

OXFORD DICTIONARY

phlegm, n.
1 the thick viscous substance secreted by the mucous membranes of the respiratory passages, discharged by coughing.
2 a coolness and calmness of disposition. b sluggishness or apathy (supposed to result from too much phlegm in the constitution).
3 archaic phlegm regarded as one of the four bodily humours.

Derivative

phlegmy adj.

Etymology

ME & OF fleume f. LL phlegma f. Gk phlegma -atos inflammation f. phlego burn

THESAURUS

phlegm

acedia, aloofness, apathy, ataraxia, ataraxy, benumbedness, blah, blahs, boredom, calmness, chyle, colostrum, comatoseness, composure, coolness, detachment, discharge, disinterest, dispassion, drowsiness, dullness, enervation, ennui, fatigue, gleet, heartlessness, heaviness, hebetude, hopelessness, humor, ichor, impassivity, imperturbability, inanimation, inappetence, indifference, insensibility, insouciance, jadedness, lachryma, lack of appetite, lackadaisicalness, lactation, languidness, languishment, languor, languorousness, lassitude, lenitude, lentor, lethargicalness, lethargy, leukorrhea, lifelessness, listlessness, lymph, matter, milk, mucor, mucus, nonchalance, numbness, oscitancy, passiveness, passivity, peccant humor, phlegmaticalness, phlegmaticness, plucklessness, purulence, pus, resignation, resignedness, rheum, saliva, sangfroid, sanies, satedness, self-possession, serous fluid, serum, sleepiness, sloth, slothfulness, slowness, sluggishness, snot, somnolence, sopor, soporifousness, spiritlessness, spunklessness, stoicism, stolidity, stupefaction, stupor, supineness, suppuration, sweat, tear, teardrop, the whites, torpidity, torpidness, torpitude, torpor, unconcern, unresponsiveness, urine, weariness, withdrawnness, world-weariness

ROGET THESAURUS

phlegm

Insensibility

N insensibility, insensibleness, moral insensibility, inertness, inertia, vis inertiae, impassibility, impassibleness, inappetency, apathy, phlegm, dullness, hebetude, supineness, lukewarmness, cold fit, cold blood, cold heart, coldness, coolness, frigidity, sang froid, stoicism, imperturbation, nonchalance, unconcern, dry eyes, insouciance, recklessness, callousness, heart of stone, stock and stone, marble, deadness, torpor, torpidity, obstupefaction, lethargy, coma, trance, vegetative state, sleep, suspended animation, stupor, stupefaction, paralysis, palsy, numbness, neutrality, quietism, vegetation, insensible, unconscious, impassive, impassible, blind to, deaf to, dead to, unsusceptible, insusceptible, unimpressionable, unimpressible, passionless, spiritless, heartless, soulless, unfeeling, unmoral, apathetic, leuco-, phlegmatic, dull, frigid, cold blooded, cold hearted, cold as charity, flat, maudlin, obtuse, inert, supine, sluggish, torpid, torpedinous, torporific, sleepy, languid, half-hearted, tame, numbed, comatose, anaesthetic, stupefied, chloroformed, drugged, stoned, palsy-stricken, indifferent, lukewarm, careless, mindless, regardless, inattentive, neglectful, disregarding, unconcerned, nonchalant, pococurante, insouciant, sans souci, unambitious, unaffected, unruffled, unimpressed, uninspired, unexcited, unmoved, unstirred, untouched, unshocked, unstruck, unblushing, unanimated, vegetative, callous, thick-skinned, hard-nosed, pachydermatous, impervious, hardened, inured, casehardened, steeled against, proof against, imperturbable, unfelt, insensibly, aequo animo, without being moved, without being touched, without being impressed, in cold blood, with dry eyes, with withers unwrung, never mind, macht nichts, it is of no consequence, it cannot be helped, nothing coming amiss, it is all the same to, it is all one to.

Semiliquidity

N semiliquidity, stickiness, viscidity, viscosity, gummosity, glutinosity, mucosity, spissitude, crassitude, lentor, adhesiveness, inspissation, incrassation, thickening, jelly, mucilage, gelatin, gluten, carlock, fish glue, ichthyocol, ichthycolla, isinglass, mucus, phlegm, goo, pituite, lava, glair, starch, gluten, albumen, milk, cream, protein, treacle, gum, size, glue (tenacity), wax, beeswax, emulsion, soup, squash, mud, slush, slime, ooze, moisture, marsh, semifluid, semiliquid, tremellose, half melted, half frozen, milky, muddy, lacteal, lactean, lacteous, lactescent, lactiferous, emulsive, curdled, thick, succulent, uliginous, gelatinous, albuminous, mucilaginous, glutinous, glutenous, gelatin, mastic, amylaceous, ropy, clammy, clotted, viscid, viscous, sticky, tacky, gooey, slab, slabby, lentous, pituitous, mucid, muculent, mucous, gummy.