Definition of "mucus" []

• The viscous, slippery substance that consists chiefly of mucin, water, cells, and inorganic salts and is secreted as a protective lubricant coating by cells and glands of the mucous membranes. (noun)

American Heritage(R) Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition. Copyright (c) 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

• "This occurs when muscles surrounding the airways tighten and squeeze them and excessive mucus is produced."
• "The mucus is interesting stuff too; it is a glycoprotein which is mostly glyco and not very proteinaceous, and which is secreted at about 99% water."
• "Such a cytokine storm as part of the adaptive response is characteristic of avian (bird) flu, where patients “drown in mucus” due to the overwhelming nature of the response and often require ventilator support to avoid death."