Definition of ooze

The origin of the word "ooze" can be traced back to the Old Norse word "áss", which means "to run". The Old English word "ós" for "mud" or "slime" is also related to this root. Over time, the word evolved in Middle English, taking the form "usen" or "oesen" in its infinitive form. It was initially used to describe the slow, viscous movement of mud or other thick materials, often associated with the sea or other bodies of water. The first recorded use of the word "ooze" in its modern form, sans the infinitive ending, was in the mid-16th century. A text published in 1559 by the Scottish poet Thomas Wright used the word to describe the oozing of oil from a trap during a visceral hunt, indicating that it was also applied to heavy or sticky substances that oozed or flowed slowly. Over time, the word "ooze" has come to encompass a range of materials, from mud or slime to molten rock, as its primary meaning of "running" or "flowing" continues to evolve in meaning. Today, the term is used to describe any substance that moves slowly and viscously, whether natural or synthetic.