The word "glutinous" is spelled with a "glu-" prefix followed by "tinous". The "g" in "glu" is pronounced as /ɡ/ and the "u" as /uː/. The "t" in "tinous" is pronounced as /t/, followed by the "i" pronounced as /ɪ/ and "nous" as /nəs/. The word has two syllables, with the stress on the second syllable, so it is pronounced as /ɡluːtɪnəs/. "Glutinous" means sticky or gluey in texture, often used to describe a type of rice commonly used in Asian cuisine.
The term "glutinous" is an adjective that describes something that is sticky, adhesive, or viscous in nature. It refers to possessing a quality similar to the stickiness or viscosity of glue. The word is derived from the Latin word "glutinosus," which means "full of glue."
In a literal sense, "glutinous" is often used to describe substances such as glue, gum, or any kind of thick and gummy substance that adheres to objects. It conveys the idea of something being sticky or tacky, making it difficult to separate or remove.
Figuratively, "glutinous" can be applied to non-physical things as well. For example, it can describe a speech or conversation that is excessively long-winded or verbose, causing difficulties in comprehension or making it hard to untangle the main point being conveyed. In this sense, it implies that something is overly adhesive or tenacious, causing a figurative "stickiness" that hampers progress or understanding.
Furthermore, "glutinous" can also describe food that is sticky in texture, particularly when cooked or processed. It is often used to describe dishes that contain or release starch, such as certain types of rice, noodles, or desserts. These foods tend to have a cohesive quality, causing ingredients to cling together and exhibit a sticky consistency.
Overall, "glutinous" pertains to stickiness, viscosity, or a strong adhesive quality, whether in a literal or figurative sense.
Tenacious; covered with slimy moisture.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "glutinous" traces its origins to the Latin word "gluten", which means "glue". In ancient Latin, "gluten" referred to any sticky substance or glue-like material. The term was later adopted into Old French as "glutineux", and in Middle English, it became "glutyn" or "gletyn". Over time, it evolved into the modern English word "glutinous", which describes something sticky or adhesive in texture.