flocculent

adjective

floc·​cu·​lent ˈflä-kyə-lənt How to pronounce flocculent (audio)
1
: resembling wool especially in loose fluffy organization
2
: containing, consisting of, or occurring in the form of loosely aggregated particles or soft flakes
a flocculent precipitate

Examples of flocculent in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The aluminum ski that is mounted under the sample basket, in front of the sub, and that helps keep the sub off the bottom, had been leaving a clean track in the soft, flocculent mud. Robert Kunzig, Discover Magazine, 11 Nov. 2019 This type of galaxy is called flocculent: with lots of short arms instead of a two or three long, grand, majestic ones. Phil Plait, Discover Magazine, 17 Feb. 2011 The snow begins as motes, which aggregate into dense, flocculent flakes that gradually sink and drift past the mouths (and mouth-like apparatuses) of scavengers farther down. New York Times, 3 Apr. 2022

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'flocculent.' 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

Latin floccus + English -ulent

First Known Use

1800, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of flocculent was in 1800

Dictionary Entries Near flocculent

Cite this Entry

“Flocculent.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/flocculent. Accessed 28 Mar. 2024.

Medical Definition

flocculent

adjective
floc·​cu·​lent -yə-lənt How to pronounce flocculent (audio)
: made up of loosely aggregated particles
a flocculent precipitate
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