Oozes

Ooze is a term used for a viscous, gelatinous substance that flows slowly. It has multiple meanings in different contexts. In everyday language, an ooze can be a sticky or slimy exudate. In geology and oceanography, ooze refers to pelagic sediment formed from biogenic particles that accumulate on the sea floor. Calcareous ooze consists mainly of shells and tests of coccolithophores and foraminifera, while siliceous ooze is derived from diatoms and radiolarians. Such sediments indicate long-term biological productivity in the source waters. The plural form ooze is used to refer to multiple substances or lifeforms that share this gelatinous character.

In physics and materials science, oozing describes the gradual deformation and flow of a viscous material under sustained stress. This includes gels, pastes, and polymers that are viscoelastic or shear-thinning, often observed in industrial or laboratory contexts.

In medicine, the term is used colloquially to describe persistent drainage of serous or bloody fluid from a wound, typically requiring attention to source control and cleanliness.

In fiction and popular culture, oozes are often depicted as amorphous, gelatinous organisms capable of engulfing, absorbing, or dissolving other materials. They appear as monsters or life forms in fantasy settings and games, with the gelatinous cube or other ooze archetypes serving as recognizable examples.

See also: calcareous ooze, siliceous ooze, gelatinous cube, black pudding, slime molds.