Ooze: meaning, definitions and examples

Refers to a thick, sticky liquid that flows slowly. Often used to describe something unpleasant or slimy seeping out from a place.

• The wound started to ooze blood.
• Green slime was oozing from the pipe.

Refers to wet, soft earth. It's typically used to describe dirt mixed with water, often found outdoors.

• The children loved to play in the mud after it rained.
• Her shoes got stuck in the deep mud.

Indicates a thick, slippery substance, which can be natural (like algae) or artificial (like toy slime). It often has an unpleasant or creepy feel to it.

• The rock was covered in green slime.
• He slipped on a patch of slime on the floor.

Describes a dirty or messy substance, often a mix of mud, dirt, and other materials. It usually has a negative connotation.

• His boots were covered in muck after walking through the fields.
• The child's hands were sticky with some sort of muck.

Use 'ooze' when a fluid is slowly coming out from something, especially in a thick or sticky way. It often has a slightly unpleasant connotation.

• The wound started to ooze blood.
• The tree was oozing sap from its trunk.

Use 'seep' when a liquid slowly passes through small openings or spreads gradually. It often suggests movement through a solid material.

• Oil began to seep through the cracks.
• Water was seeping into the basement.

Use 'trickle' when a small flow of liquid moves slowly and in a thin stream. It can also describe the gradual flow of people or other things.

• A small stream trickled down the hill.
• People trickled into the stadium.

Use 'drip' when a liquid falls in small drops. It typically refers to a slow, steady process with single drops falling.

• Water dripped from the faucet.
• Rain was dripping from the roof.