floc

a. [ L. floccosus. Cf. 2d Flock, n. ] 1. Spotted with small tufts like wool. Wright. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. (Bot.) Having tufts of soft hairs, which are often deciduous. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Anat.) Of or pertaining to the flocculus. [ 1913 Webster ]

a. (Zool.) Furnished with tufts of curly hairs, as some insects. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. i. [ imp. & p. p. Flocculated; p. pr. & vb. n. Flocculating. ] (Geol.) To aggregate into small lumps. [ 1913 Webster ]

v. t. To convert into floccules or flocculent aggregates; to make granular or crumbly; as, the flocculating of a soil improves its mechanical condition.

When applied to clay soils it [ lime ] binds the small particles together, or flocculates them. I. P. Roberts. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. (Geol.) 1. The process by which small particles of fine soils and sediments aggregate into larger lumps. [ 1913 Webster ]

2. The process or event in which masses of a solid substance of perceptible size form in a liquid by aggregation of smaller particles, and usually sediment to the bottom of the containing vessel; as, addition of a cationic polymer can cause flocculation of a negatively charged colloidal suspension. [ PJC ]

n. [ See Flocculus. ] 1. A detached mass of loosely fibrous structure like a shredded tuft of wool. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

2. (Chem.) Specif.: A small particle of an insoluble substance formed in a liquid by the union of smaller particles. [ Webster 1913 Suppl. ]

n. The state of being flocculent. [ 1913 Webster ]