Phlegm Definition

flĕm

noun

The thick, stringy mucus secreted by the mucous glands of the respiratory tract and discharged from the throat, as during a cold.

Webster's New World

That one of the four humors of the body which was believed in medieval times to cause sluggishness or dullness.

Webster's New World

Sluggishness or apathy.

Webster's New World

Calmness or composure.

Webster's New World

(historical, chemistry, alchemy) A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution. [from 16th c.]

Wiktionary

Synonyms:

Other Word Forms of Phlegm

Singular:

phlegm

Plural:

phlegms

From Old French fleume, Middle French phlegme (French flegme), and their source, Latin phlegma, from Ancient Greek φλέγμα (phlegma, “flame; inflammation; clammy humor in the body"), from φλέγειν (phlegein, “to burn"). Compare phlox, flagrant, flame, bleak (adjective), fulminate.

From Wiktionary
Middle English fleume mucous discharge, the humor phlegm from Old French from Medieval Latin phlegma, flegma from Late Latin phlegma the humor phlegm from Greek heat, the humor phlegm from phlegein to burn

From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

Find similar words to phlegm using the buttons below.