What does slime mean?
Slime names a thick, wet, often sticky or slippery substance. It can refer to natural material such as the film found in ponds, the residue produced by certain organisms, or any messy liquid-looking coating. In informal figurative use, slime can describe a person regarded as contemptible, dishonest, or unpleasant to deal with. The related verb “to slime” means to become covered in slime or move through it in a slimy way. In fantasy, children’s stories, and games, slime also appears as a fictional creature or substance, often associated with caves, monsters, or comic mischief. Because the word combines a precise physical meaning with vivid figurative associations, it is useful for describing both literal messiness and moral or social unpleasantness.
A thick, wet, often sticky or slippery substance; figuratively, an unpleasant or contemptible person.
"A thin layer of slime covered the stones."
To become covered or filled with slime, or to move in a slow, unpleasant, or contemptible manner.
"The walls began to slime after the flood."
Usually plural for individual blobs or creatures of slime; the mass noun “slime” is common when referring to the substance generally.
"The screen was dotted with bright green slimes."
In nature, slime can help organisms move, feed, and protect themselves, but in everyday speech it usually means something unmistakably messy.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does slime come from?
The English word “slime” is inherited from Old English and has Germanic roots. Its later development produced related forms such as “slimy” and “sliminess,” which preserve the word’s associations with wetness, stickiness, and unpleasant slippery surfaces.
Related word forms
How slime is actually used
The noun is common in literal descriptions of wet, sticky substances. Its figurative use for a contemptible person is informal and may be especially common in British and American speech.
Easily confused with slime
Slime is the wet or sticky substance itself, while slimy is the adjective describing something covered in, made of, or characterized by slime.