Definition

A thin, watery discharge that comes from the eyes or nose, often due to irritation or illness.

Example

She wiped the rheum from her eyes after waking up in the morning.

Conversation

Have you ever noticed how much rheum I get in the morning?

Yeah, it looks annoying — I usually have some, too.

It really bothers me, especially when I wake up late.

I know what you mean! A warm compress helps to clear it up.

Synonyms & Antonyms

Root Explanation

Rheum originates from Latin 'rheuma' (meaning a flow or discharge), which in turn comes from Greek 'rheuma' (meaning a flow or stream). The word refers to a watery discharge, particularly in a medical context.

Memory Tip

Think of 'flow' ('rheuma') to remember that 'rheum' refers to a watery discharge.

Visually Confused Words