Meaning

(historical) One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus..

Definitions by Sense

1. (historical) One of the four humors making up the body in ancient and mediaeval medicine; said to be cold and moist, and often identified with mucus.
2. Viscid mucus produced by the body, later especially mucus expelled from the bronchial passages by coughing.
3. (historical, chemistry, alchemy) A watery distillation, especially one obtained from plant matter; an aqueous solution.
4. Calmness of temperament, composure; also seen negatively, sluggishness, indifference.

Example Sentences

Each person's unique mixture of these substances determines his temperament: a predominance of blood gives a sanguine temperament; a predominance of phlegm makes one phlegmatic; yellow bile, bilious (or choleric); and black bile, melancholic.

Even some members of the new bourgeoisie indulge in conspicuously boorish behavior, like hawking phlegm onto the pavement or picking their noses at business meetings.

The attempts made to analyse vegetable substances previous to 1720, merely produced their resolution into the supposed elements of the chemists of those days, namely, salts, Earths, phlegm, and sulphur.

Orloff's phlegm broke completely, and he snatched at the monocle as it dropped[.]

But Swedish Nazis also talked of the necessity of saving Sweden from Bolshevism, and with the menacing Berlin radio gnawing in their ears many Swedes lost their Scandinavian phlegm.

Word Forms

• phlegms

Synonyms for phlegm

Related Words

When Should You Use Phlegm?

Use phlegm when its meaning, tone and grammar fit the full sentence. A synonym is not always a direct replacement.

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