oobleck

English

WOTD – 13 August 2015

Oobleck on a subwoofer. The force of the sound waves causes the non-Newtonian fluid to thicken.

Etymology

Named for a sticky substance in Bartholomew and the Oobleck (1949), children's story by Dr. Seuss.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈuː.blɛk/

  • Audio (Southern England)

    (file)

Noun

oobleck (usually uncountable, plural ooblecks)

1. A mixture of cornstarch and water with unusual physical properties.
   • 1995, Nancy Lee Cecil, The Art of Inquiry: Questioning Strategies for K-6 Classrooms:

     How many people found that the oobleck was different from the flour?

   • 1998, Kathy Charner, The Giant Encyclopedia of Science Activities for Children 3 to 6:

     Pour the oobleck into a water table or into plastic tubs to place on tables.

   • 2002, Joe Schwarcz, That's the Way the Cookie Crumbles:

     I know from personal experience that it's not fun to be covered with oobleck.

See also

• flubber
• non-Newtonian fluid

Spanish

Noun

oobleck m (plural ooblecks)

1. oobleck