What does "goo" mean?
Any semi-solid or liquid substance; especially one that is sticky, gummy or slippery, unpleasant, and of vague or unknown composition, such as slime or semen.
Goo
/ɡuː/ name, noun, verb, slang
name, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: Any semi-solid or liquid substance; especially one that is sticky, gummy or slippery, unpleasant, and of vague or unknown composition, such as slime or semen.
- Grammar: goo is listed as name, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: slime, gook, goop, gunk.
- Useful contrasts: dryness, solid.
- Usage evidence: That's not a bear anymore. That's bear goo.
How to use "goo"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "goo" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "goo" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "goo" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "goo" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "goo" is acting as name, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "slime" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "goo", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 Any semi-solid or liquid substance; especially one that is sticky, gummy or slippery, unpleasant, and of vague or unknown composition, such as slime or semen. informal, uncountable, usually
"I stepped in some goo and had a terrible time getting the sticky stuff off my shoes."
- 2 A noise made by a baby trying to imitate speech.
"The infant's goos and gahs were endearing."
- 3 Initialism of gastric outlet obstruction. abbreviation, alt-of, initialism, uncountable
- 4 any thick, viscous matter wordnet
- 5 Excessive, showy sentimentality. figuratively, uncountable, usually
"[…] To be really human is probably to be unavoidably sentimental and naive and goo-prone and generally pathetic, is to be in some basic interior way forever infantile, some sort of not-quite-right-looking infant dragging itself anaclitically around the map, with big wet eyes and froggy-soft skin, huge skull, gooey drool."
Verb
- 1 To apply goo to something. transitive
"They gooed their hair with some fragrant styling product."
- 2 To produce baby talk. intransitive
"The baby gooed while daddy made sappy faces at it."
- 3 Elongated form of go.
"Lowry put out a social media post to his more than 907,000 Twitter followers saying, "Miami Heat X Kyle Lowry" and "Let's Goo!!" followed by five fire emojis."
- 4 Pronunciation spelling of go. Northern-England, Scotland, West-Midlands, alt-of, pronunciation-spelling
"Well, then, things are settled, an' I'll goo an' finish yond pigs off," said my new employer, rising from his chair, and flapping his crush hat upon his head as if he was killing flies."
Proper Noun
- 1 A surname.
Example
"That's not a bear anymore. That's bear goo."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "goo"?
Common synonyms include: slime, gook, goop, gunk, muck, ooze.
How do you use "goo" in a sentence?
That's not a bear anymore. That's bear goo.
How do you pronounce "goo"?
Pronounced /ɡuː/.
Etymology
Etymology 1
Etymology tree English burgoo? Proto-Indo-European *gleyH- Proto-Indo-European *glóh₁ytn̥ Proto-Italic *gloiten Latin glūten Late Latin glūs Old French glubor. Middle English glew English glue? English goo American English, attested since 1903, possibly from burgoo (“thick porridge”); alternatively, an alteration of glue.
Etymology 2
Onomatopoeic of baby talk.
Etymology 3
See go.
Etymology 4
From the Korean surname, spelling variant of Koo. Also see Gu.