Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • noun A thick, golden-brown viscous solution of cellulose xanthate, used in the manufacture of rayon and cellophane.
  • noun Viscose rayon.
  • adjective Viscous.
  • adjective Of, relating to, or made from viscose.

from The Century Dictionary.

  • noun The trade-name of a plastic material made from cellulose (cotton fiber) by treatment with a solution of caustic soda, addition of carbon disulphid, and digestion at ordinary temperature until a homogeneous liquid is produced, a solution of cellulose thiocarbonate, from which a structureless jelly-like coagulum of cellulose is formed by spontaneous decomposition. Cellulose tetra-acetate may also be used to obtain viscose. Mineral pigments, hydrocarbons, and other substances may be incorporated with viscose before it is molded into special shapes for use. A fiber imitating silk in luster has also been prepared from this material.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun A viscous orange-brown liquid obtained by chemical treatment of cellulose and used as the basis of manufacturing rayon and cellulose film.
  • noun A fabric made from this material.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun a rayon fabric made from viscose (cellulose xanthate) fibers
  • noun a cellulose ester obtained by treating cellulose with caustic soda

Etymologies

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 4th Edition

[visc(ous) + –ose. Adj., sense 1, Middle English viscous, from Late Latin viscōsus, from Latin viscum, mistletoe, birdlime made from mistletoe berries.]

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

Latin viscosus, from viscum, birdlime.

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Examples

  • Sometimes the terms viscose and rayon are used interchangeably, although they are created by slightly different methods.

    A Passion for Knitting Nancy J. Thomas 2002

  • Of the 'viscose' product we have a more intimate knowledge, and it certainly reaches a higher general standard than the older and now well-known artificial silks.

    Researches on Cellulose 1895-1900 C. F. Cross

  • It’s made out of a durable fabric, something called viscose, so that it won’t fall apart like the average kitchen sponge.

    One Less Thing in the Trash Can 2008

  • It’s made out of a durable fabric, something called viscose, so that it won’t fall apart like the average kitchen sponge.

    2008 June | Inner City Farmer - Part 2 2008

  • Artificial substitutes such as viscose and nylon have greatly diminished demand for real silk, but it remains a material associated with luxury and style, and has medicinal and military uses such as parachutes.

    Yahoo! News: Business - Opinion 2010

  • Artificial substitutes such as viscose and nylon have greatly diminished demand for real silk, but it remains a material associated with luxury and style, and has medicinal and military uses such as parachutes.

    www.kyivpost.com: News 2010

  • Artificial substitutes such as viscose and nylon have greatly diminished demand for real silk, but it remains a material associated with luxury and style, and has medicinal and military uses such as parachutes.

    The Seattle Times 2010

  • Here in America most of the artificial silk which, by the way, is known as viscose, has cellulose in some form as its base, afterward being treated with different combinations of chemicals. "

    The Story of Silk Sara Ware Bassett 1920

  • Some fibers and fabrics, such as viscose rayon, require waterless cleaning because they have "low wet strength," while others such as wool might shrink, says Kay Obendorf, a professor of fiber science at Cornell University.

    The New Dirt on Dry Cleaners Ray A. Smith 2011

  • In July, Cosmo Specialty Fibers Inc. loaded its first shipment of viscose pulp onto the Apalis Arrow, a freighter bound for China.

    Old Port Profits With New Exports Joel Millman 2011

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