viscose

UK: /ˈvɪskəʊs/ US: (vis′kōs)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

vis•cose  (vis′kōs), n. 

1. Chemistry a viscous solution prepared by treating cellulose with caustic soda and carbon bisulfide: used in manufacturing regenerated cellulose fibers, sheets, or tubes, as rayon or cellophane.
2. Textiles viscose rayon.

adj. 

3. of, pertaining to, or made from viscose.
4. Physics viscous.

• Latin visc(um) birdlime + -ose²
• Late Latin viscōsus viscous (see -ose¹); (in def. 1)
• 1350–1400 for def. 4; 1895–1900 for def. 1; (in def. 4)

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

viscose / ˈvɪskəʊs/ noun

1. a viscous orange-brown solution obtained by dissolving cellulose in sodium hydroxide and carbon disulphide. It can be converted back to cellulose by an acid, as in the manufacture of rayon and cellophane
2. (as modifier): viscose rayon
3. rayon made from this material

adjective

1. another word for viscous

Etymology: 19th Century: from Late Latin viscōsus full of birdlime, sticky, from viscum birdlime; see viscid

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

vis•cous /ˈvɪskəs/   adj. 

1. Physics of a thick, sticky consistency.
2. Physics having the property of viscosity.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

vis•cous  (vis′kəs), adj. 

1. Physics of a glutinous nature or consistency;
   sticky;
   thick;
   adhesive.
2. Physics having the property of viscosity.

Also, viscose. 

• Late Latin viscōsus, equivalent. to Latin visc(um) mistletoe, birdlime (made with mistletoe berries) + -ōsus -ous
• Middle English 1350–1400

vis′cous•ly, adv. 
vis′cous•ness, n. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

viscous / ˈvɪskəs/, viscose adjective

1. (of liquids) thick and sticky; viscid
2. having or involving viscosity

Etymology: 14th Century: from Late Latin viscōsus; see viscose

ˈviscously adverb