Ma'anar ƙamus na kalmar "mucose" wani abu ne na gelatinous wanda ke ɓoye ta wurin mucous membranes kuma ya ƙunshi glycoproteins, proteoglycans, da glycolipids. Mucous membranes suna layi na gabobin jiki daban-daban da gabobin jiki, kamar na numfashi, narkewar abinci, da tsarin haihuwa, kuma suna ɓoye ɓangarorin don yin mai da kuma kare waɗannan kyallen takarda daga lalacewa da kamuwa da cuta. Kalmar “mucose” kuma a wasu lokuta ana amfani da ita azaman ma’ana ga gaɓoɓin gaɓoɓi, wanda shi ne ɗigon ruwa mai ɗaci, mai sulɓi da ƙumburi ke samarwa don ɗanɗano da kuma kare saman ciki.