gluten

noun4

1. •
   The major protein in cereal grains, especially wheat; responsible for the elasticity in dough and the structure in baked bread.

   • Unfortunately, wholemeal bread is, according to many experts, a tricky thing to get right, as the lower gluten content of the flour makes for dense results […] — 2010
2. •
   A gluey, sticky mass of clay, bitumen etc.

   • Despite constant rain that turned roads to gluten, the Yankees kept moving. — 1988
3. •
   (rare) Any gluey, sticky substance.

   • [H]is nose is running in bubbly gluten over his lips onto his chin […]. — 1975
4. •
   (no longer used) Fibrin (formerly considered as one of the "animal humours").

   • The Radicall or innate, is dayly supplied by nourishment, which some call Cambium, and make those secundary Humors of Ros and Gluten to maintaine it: […] — 1621