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glutinous

glutinous

2 7.7
Sticky like glue that easily sticks to things
  • adjective
  • /ˈɡluːtɪnəs/
translation icon : glutinoso
  • After boiling, the pasta had a glutinous texture that made it perfect for the sauce.
  • glutinous rice

Examples

  • These glutinous dough balls are filled with sweet red bean paste and coated with white sesame.

    Blog text (27)
  • Anyway, put it all together and you get pot pie. "Is it very glutinous?" said Molly.

    Fiction book (1991)
  • A secondary 1 student commented on how he started a project on glutinous rice balls.

    Academic text (1996)
  • They sell this glutinous rice ball.

    Academic text (1996)
  • The glutinous rice and red and green beans are mixed and steamed to make "join-in-the-fun rice," distributed to neighbors and agnatic relatives of the child's father.

    Academic text (1998)
  • When relatives and friends depart, their fragrant baskets are returned with rice, sugared plums, red glutinous rice cakes, and a packet of chopsticks.

    Academic text (1998)
  • The recipe calls for glutinous rice, which becomes sticky when cooked.

  • Many desserts in Asian cuisine are made with glutinous flour to achieve a chewy consistency.

Synonyms

sticky
vsglutinous
126 1.0

Covered with a substance that keeps it on other things

highlights a glue-like texture rather than just the sticking property
slimy
vsglutinous
42 2.5

Covered in a wet, slippery layer, like on fish or rocks

is dry or tacky rather than a wet slippery coating
viscous
vsglutinous
11 6.1

Thick and sticky so it does not flow easily

centres on tacky texture rather than how slowly it flows
gelatinous
vsglutinous
9 5.9

Thick and sticky like jelly

is not limited to jelly textures and applies more widely
adhesive
vsglutinous
3 3.5

Sticking to a surface so it stays in place

describes the tactile sticky quality rather than strong bonding force
goopy
vsglutinous
2 5.6

Thick and sticky in a wet, unpleasant way

means sticky generally without necessarily being unpleasant or wet
gluey
vsglutinous
1 3.2

Thick and sticky so things stick together

is the broader sticky texture not tied to glue comparison
adherent
vsglutinous
  • Specialized
1 6.6

Sticks firmly to a surface

is about the material texture that causes sticking rather than attachment strength
gloppy
vsglutinous
  • Informal
1 5.5

Thick and sticky in a messy way

is the neutral sticky texture without implying messiness
pasty
vsglutinous
1 7.3

Being soft and sticky, like thick glue

is the simple sticky sense rather than emphasising residue or paste
gummy
vsglutinous
1 3.7

Sticky and likely to cling to your hands

focuses on general stickiness instead of edible gum likeness
viscid
vsglutinous
1 9.9

Thick and sticky like glue or syrup

focuses more on stickiness than on thickness or flow resistance
soft and gooey
vsglutinous
1 2.5

Food that is soft to touch with a sticky, melted inside

covers sticky textures broadly, not only soft food-like ones
gluelike
vsglutinous
3.7

Very sticky and thick so things stick together

is a general sticky texture rather than an exact glue likeness
stickly
vsglutinous
8.4

Having a wet, glue like feel that makes things stay on it

is the neutral term for any sticky or adhesive texture
mucilaginous
vsglutinous
  • Specialized
9.9

Thick and sticky like wet glue

is the plain sticky texture without botanical or technical nuance
ghili
vsglutinous
9.9

Sticky and thick so it stays on hands or objects

is the everyday sticky description without the thick mouthfeel focus
stickery
vsglutinous
6.4

Having a surface that makes things stay on it

is the basic sticky property rather than emphasis on surface marking

Antonyms

256 1.0

A surface that is even and not rough

Does not stick to skin or other surfaces

How Sticky

glutinous
2 7.7
gummy
1 3.7
sticky
126 1.0
tacky
  • Specialized
4 4.9

Surface Forms

glutinous positive

Morphology

glutinous = gluten (semi-transparent) = glutin + ous

Formed by adding the adjectival suffix '-ous' to the glutin-/gluten root so the meaning 'sticky, glue-like' is derivable, but learners may be confused by the relation to the English noun 'gluten' (the cereal protein) or the different surface form from 'glue'.

Etymology

Glutinous comes from the Latin word gluten, which means 'glue'. So something glutinous is like 'glue' — very sticky and likely to stick to things, which is why we call sticky rice or syrup glutinous.