oozes; oozed; oozing
1
a
: to flow out slowly
Sap oozed from the tree.
Juice oozed out of the plum.
The cut on her finger was oozing with blood.
b
: to have (something) flow out slowly
The tree was oozing sap.
The cut on her finger was oozing blood.
2
: to show (a quality, emotion, etc.) very clearly or strongly
She oozes confidence. [=she has a lot of confidence]
—usually + withHis letter oozed with sympathy.
: a slow flow of something (such as blood)
A bandage will stop the ooze from that cut.
: soft mud or slime (such as on the bottom of a lake)
The turtle buried itself in the ooze.
Cite this Entry
“Ooze.” Merriam-Webster.com Simple Definition, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/simple/ooze. Accessed 17 Apr. 2026.
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