rheum

noun

1
: a watery discharge from the mucous membranes especially of the eyes or nose
2
archaic : tears
rheumy adjective

Examples of rheum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Eye boogers are primarily a combination of mucus, tears, and skin cells known as rheum and are scientifically termed rheumatic. Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2022 Amir began wheezing at night — once so badly that an ambulance was called — and woke up most mornings to find his eyes swollen shut with rheum. Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, 9 July 2018 This washes excess tear fluid that would form into rheum away into your eye’s tear drainage system, Dr. Kathuria explains. Korin Miller, SELF, 17 Jan. 2018

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'rheum.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reume, from Anglo-French, from Latin rheuma, from Greek, literally, flow, flux, from rhein to flow — more at stream

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of rheum was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near rheum

Cite this Entry

“Rheum.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/rheum. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

rheum

noun
: a watery discharge from the mucous membranes especially of the eyes or nose
rheumy adjective

Medical Definition

rheum

1 of 2 noun
: a watery discharge from the mucous membranes especially of the eyes or nose
also : a condition (as a cold) marked by such discharge
rheumy adjective

Rheum

2 of 2 noun
Rhe·​um ˈrē-əm How to pronounce Rheum (audio)
: a genus of Asian herbs (family Polygonaceae) that have large leaves, small flowers, and a 3-winged fruit and that include the rhubarbs (as the Chinese rhubarb, R. officinale, and rhapontic, R. rhaponticum)
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