Množina: mucuses
ETYM Latin mucus, muccus; cf. mucere to be moldy or musty, Greek myxa mucus, and Skr. muc to release. Related to Match for striking fire, Moist, Mucilage.
(Irregular plural: mucuses).
Lubricating and protective fluid, secreted by mucous membranes in many different parts of the body. In the gut, mucus smooths the passage of food and keeps potentially damaging digestive enzymes away from the gut lining. In the lungs, it traps airborne particles so that they can be expelled.
Protective secretion of the mucous membranes; SYN. mucous secretion.