slimy

Slimy is a descriptive term for a texture that is wet, slippery, and viscous. Substances described as slimy can range from thin, mucus-like films to thick gels that leave a moist coat when touched. In nature and everyday life, slime typically refers to materials that are soft, cohesive, and easy to deform but slow to dry.

Physically, slime usually contains substantial water and polymeric components such as mucopolysaccharides or glycoproteins. These molecules form a network that makes the material viscoelastic: it behaves like a solid when force is applied quickly but flows like a liquid over longer times. Viscosity and slipperiness are influenced by temperature, salt content, and concentration of polymers.

In biology, many organisms produce slime to aid movement or protect tissues. Snails and slugs secrete mucus to glide over surfaces. Amphibians produce mucous coatings to keep skin moist and to deter desiccation. Slime molds spread a gelatinous plasmodium that streams as it grows, and bacterial colonies can form slimy biofilms that help adhesion and moisture retention.

Beyond biology, the word slimy is used to describe objects with slippery textures, as well as sensory impressions in literature and media. Slime materials are studied in materials science for their unique rheological properties and have practical uses in coatings, soft robotics, and educational demonstrations. Slime can also pose hazards when it reduces friction on floors or walkways.