Floccose

/ˈflɒkoʊs/ adjective

Definition

Having a fluffy or woolly texture; resembling tufts of wool or cotton.

Etymology

From Latin 'floccus' (a lock of wool or tuft), with the suffix '-ose' meaning 'full of' or 'having the quality of.' The root relates to the Old English 'flock,' meaning a clump of wool.

Kelly Says

Floccose is the fancy scientific word biologists use when they're looking at fungi or bacteria colonies under a microscope and they look all soft and fluffy—it's way more satisfying than just saying 'woolly'!

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