rheum

rheum — noun

1. the thin, watery fluid that naturally forms around the eyes or inside the nose,

1.名詞
釋義

the thin, watery fluid that naturally forms around the eyes or inside the nose, especially when a person has a cold, is crying, or has tired or irritated eyes.

例句

After the long flight, Inês wiped a small amount of rheum from the corners of her eyes.

collocation: wipe rheum from

The allergy medication helped reduce the rheum streaming from Jessica's nose and eyes.

collocation: reduce rheum

同義詞
  • discharge

    broader term; covers any bodily fluid released from a wound or opening

  • mucus

    thicker and slipperier; specifically produced by mucous membranes, not limited to eyes or nose

  • secretion

    more clinical; refers to any substance produced by a gland or tissue

文法句型

rheum + from [body part]

rheum + in [body part]

用法筆記

Uncountable noun. Frequently appears in medical or clinical descriptions of eye or nasal secretions. More commonly encountered in its dried form as 'sleep' or 'eye crust' in everyday speech.

常見錯誤

❌He wiped the rheums from his eyes.
✅He wiped the rheum from his eyes.
💡rheum is uncountable and takes no plural form.

2. a literary or poetic word for tears, used to suggest deep sadness, grief, or ten

2.名詞
釋義

a literary or poetic word for tears, used to suggest deep sadness, grief, or tender emotion in formal or artistic writing.

例句

In the old poem, the queen's rheum fell like rain upon her husband's tomb.

literary use: rheum as tears of grief

The novelist described the widow's rheum staining the pages of the farewell letter.

literary register

同義詞
  • tears

    the everyday word; rheum is a rare, elevated substitute used only in formal or poetic contexts

文法句型

rheum + as [symbol] + of [emotion]

用法筆記

Almost exclusively found in poetry, literary fiction, and formal historical texts. Avoid in everyday conversation or modern prose — use 'tears' instead. Distinguish from sense 1 (WATERY DISCHARGE), which is a neutral medical term; sense 2 carries a deliberate emotional and archaic flavour.

常見錯誤

❌I wiped my rheum after the sad movie.
✅I wiped my tears after the sad movie.
💡rheum for tears is too literary for casual speech.