rheum

noun

ˈrüm 

1

: a watery discharge from the mucous membranes especially of the eyes or nose

2

archaic : tears

rheumy

ˈrü-mē 

adjective

Examples of rheum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Eye boogers are primarily a combination of mucus, tears, and skin cells known as rheum and are scientifically termed rheumatic. —Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 16 Oct. 2022

Amir began wheezing at night — once so badly that an ambulance was called — and woke up most mornings to find his eyes swollen shut with rheum. —Hannah Natanson, Washington Post, 9 July 2018

This washes excess tear fluid that would form into rheum away into your eye’s tear drainage system, Dr. Kathuria explains. —Korin Miller, SELF, 17 Jan. 2018

Word History

Etymology

Middle English reume, from Anglo-French, from Latin rheuma, from Greek, literally, flow, flux, from rhein to flow — more at stream

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

rheum

noun

ˈrüm 

: a watery discharge from the mucous membranes especially of the eyes or nose

rheumy

ˈrü-mē 

adjective

Medical Definition

rheum

1 of 2 noun

ˈrüm 

: a watery discharge from the mucous membranes especially of the eyes or nose

also : a condition (as a cold) marked by such discharge

rheumy

-ē 

adjective

Rheum

2 of 2 noun

Rhe·​um ˈrē-əm 

: a genus of Asian herbs (family Polygonaceae) that have large leaves, small flowers, and a 3-winged fruit and that include the rhubarbs (as the Chinese rhubarb, R. officinale, and rhapontic, R. rhaponticum)