runny

Everyday

1. Runny means more liquid than usual, so it flows easily («runny honey», «a runny egg»). tree →
2. A runny nose has a lot of liquid coming out of it, usually because of a cold or allergy. tree →
3. Runny eyes are watery. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life it describes food (runny egg yolk, runny custard) and health (runny nose with colds and hay fever); hygiene lessons teach catch it, bin it, wash your hands. In science «runny» is everyday language for a liquid with low viscosity (flows easily), compared with thick or sticky. Phrases: «runny nose», «runny yolk», «runny honey».

Examples

• I have a runny nose, so I need a tissue. tree →
• I like my egg with a runny yolk. tree →
• Runny honey is easy to pour. tree →
• The paint was too runny and dripped down the wall. tree →
• Hay fever gives me runny eyes. tree →
• Water is runnier than syrup. tree →
• The ice cream went runny in the sun. tree →
• If your nose is runny, use a tissue and wash your hands. tree →

Note

Comparative «runnier», superlative «runniest». Double n from «run». It is informal; in science the word «viscous» means the opposite (thick and slow-flowing).