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to flow out slowly, often thickly or in small amounts
The sap oozed from the tree trunk.
The tree's sap slowly leaked out.
Pus oozed from the infected cut.
The infected cut released pus slowly.
Often used for liquids that are thick, sticky, or unpleasant.
to display a strong quality or emotion in a way that is difficult to hide
Confidence oozed from every word she spoke.
She showed strong confidence in everything she said.
The restaurant oozes charm with its vintage decor.
The restaurant clearly has a lot of charm.
Usually describes positive qualities like confidence, charm, or wealth.
a thick, slow-flowing liquid or substance
The mud had the consistency of thick ooze.
The mud was very thick and slow-moving.
Can refer to mud, slime, or other viscous substances.
While 'ooze' can describe mud, it's more commonly used for other thick substances like blood, sap, or pus. For mud, 'mire' or 'sludge' might be more precise.
If something flows quickly, use 'gush' or 'pour' instead of 'ooze'.
The liquid or substance should be thick or viscous; thin liquids like water don't 'ooze'.
From Middle English 'wose' (mud, mire), from Old English 'wāse' (soft mud, mire), of Germanic origin; related to Dutch 'waas' (haze) and German 'Wies' (meadow). The verb sense emerged later, likely influenced by the noun's imagery of slow movement.
As a verb, 'ooze' often implies a slow, steady release rather than a sudden flow. It can describe both physical liquids and metaphorical qualities. The figurative use is more common in creative writing or descriptive language.