glutinous

IPA/ˈɡluːtənəs/
IPA/ˈɡluːtənəs/

glutinous — adjective

  • glutinouspositive
  • more glutinouscomparative
  • most glutinoussuperlative

1. having a thick, sticky texture similar to glue, often describing types of rice,

1.adjectiveC1
Definition

having a thick, sticky texture similar to glue, often describing types of rice, dough, or syrups that cling together.

Example

Luca stirred the glutinous rice batter until it formed a thick, sticky dough.

collocation: glutinous rice batter

After boiling for an hour, the syrup became glutinous and hard to pour.

predicative: become + glutinous

Common collocations
  • glutinous rice
  • glutinous dough
  • glutinous texture
  • glutinous mass
  • glutinous syrup
Synonyms
  • sticky

    much more common and general; can describe tape, labels, or fingers, while glutinous specifically suggests a glue-like or food-related thickness

  • gummy

    implies a chewy, elastic stickiness (like candy), whereas glutinous focuses on thickness and adhesion

  • viscous

    more technical, usually of liquids that resist flowing; glutinous also applies to semi-solids like dough

  • adhesive

    describes the functional ability to stick things together rather than texture itself

Antonyms
  • non-sticky

    direct opposite in texture

  • smooth

    describes a surface that does not cling or adhere

Grammar Patterns

glutinous + noun

become/turn + glutinous

Usage Note

Most commonly used with the noun 'rice' to describe a type of sticky rice (糯米) that is a staple in East and Southeast Asian cooking. Also found describing syrups, doughs, and other thick, clingy substances.

Word family

  • glutinously
    adverbC1
  • gluten
    nounB2
  • glue
    nounA2
  • gluey
    adjectiveB2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adjective/1

All four words describe a quality of clinging or adhering, but they differ in scope and feel. Sticky is the most common and general — a stamp, a child's hand, and glue can all be sticky. Gummy suggests a thicker, more elastic quality, like chewy candy or adhesive tape. Viscous is technical and limited to liquids (honey, oil) that flow slowly. Adhesive focuses on the functional ability to stick things together rather than the sensation of touch. Glutinous sits closest to sticky but is narrower: it describes a glue-like thickness, most often in food (glutinous rice, glutinous syrup) and carries a slightly formal or descriptive tone. For example, you would call honey 'viscous', but a rice cake 'glutinous' or 'sticky', not 'viscous'.

sticky ↗gummy ↗viscous ↗adhesive ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

  • extremely glutinous
  • somewhat glutinous

Phrases

  • glutinous rice flour
  • glutinous rice cake

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin glūtinōsus, meaning sticky or gluey, derived from glūten (glue). The word entered English through French in the early 17th century. It shares its root with glue and gluten.

First known use

15th century

15th century, in the meaning defined above