Slime vs. Putty — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 5, 2023
Slime is a gooey, stretchy substance often made for play, while putty is a denser, moldable material used both for play and practical purposes.
Difference Between Slime and Putty
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Slime and putty, while seemingly similar, have distinct characteristics. Slime, popular among children, is a stretchy, gooey substance often made from a combination of glue, water, and other ingredients, resulting in a playful texture.
Putty, on the other hand, is denser and firmer. While it can be used for play, resembling the playful aspect of slime, putty also has a more established history in practical applications, such as sealing gaps in windows or walls.
Slime, due to its consistency, often flows slowly and can spread out when left uncontained. It's recognized for its tactile and visual appeal, often created in vibrant colors or with glitter and beads for added attraction.
Putty's firmer texture allows it to retain its shape longer than slime. Unlike slime, putty can be molded, snapped, or broken apart. It bounces when rolled into a ball and is not as sticky as slime.
The ingredients and the process of making slime and putty differ. While both often start with a base like glue, the additives, such as borax or silicone oil, define their unique properties.
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Comparison Chart
Consistency
Gooey and stretchy
Denser and moldable
Common Use
Play
Play and sealing
Flow
Spreads out slowly
Retains shape
Ingredients
Glue, water, borax, and others
Glue, silicone oil, or other compounds
Texture
Sticky and can be messy
Less sticky and more cohesive
Compare with Definitions
Slime
A gooey, stretchy substance popular for play.
Kids love making colorful slime during craft time.
Putty
A moldable substance used to seal or fill gaps.
He used putty to seal the window edges.
Slime
A thick, slippery liquid resembling mucus.
The frog was covered in a layer of slime.
Putty
A pliable material used in glazing windows.
The glazier applied putty to hold the glass in place.
Slime
A thick, sticky, slippery substance.
Putty
A type of soft, plastic clay.
She used a special putty for her art project.
Slime
(Biology) A mucous substance secreted by certain animals, such as catfishes and slugs.
Putty
A soft, malleable material used for play.
The child molded the putty into various shapes.
Slime
Soft moist earth; mud.
Putty
Putty is a material with high plasticity, similar in texture to clay or dough, typically used in domestic construction and repair as a sealant or filler. Although some types of putty (typically those using linseed oil) slowly polymerise and become stiff, many putties can be reworked indefinitely, in contrast to other types of filler which typically set solid relatively rapidly.
Slime
A slurry containing very fine particulate matter.
Putty
A doughlike cement made by mixing whiting and linseed oil, used to fill holes in woodwork and secure panes of glass.
Slime
Vile or disgusting matter.
Putty
A substance with a similar consistency or function.
Slime
(Slang) A despicable or repulsive person.
Putty
A fine lime cement used as a finishing coat on plaster.
Slime
To smear with slime.
Putty
A yellowish or light brownish gray to grayish yellow or light grayish brown.
Slime
To remove slime from (fish to be canned, for example).
Putty
To fill, cover, or secure with putty.
Slime
To vilify or malign (someone), especially publicly.
Putty
A form of cement, made from linseed oil and whiting, used to fix panes of glass.
Slime
Soft, moist earth or clay, having an adhesive quality; viscous mud; any substance of a dirty nature, that is moist, soft, and adhesive; bitumen; mud containing metallic ore, obtained in the preparatory dressing.
Putty
Any of a range of similar substances.
Slime
Any mucilaginous substance; or a mucus-like substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals, such as snails or slugs.
Putty
An oxide of tin, or of lead and tin, used in polishing glass, etc.
Slime
A sneaky, unethical person; a slimeball.
Putty
A fine cement of lime only, used by plasterers.
Slime
A monster having the form of a slimy blob.
Putty
A golf ball made of composition and not gutta-percha.
Slime
Human flesh, seen disparagingly; mere human form.
Putty
Of, pertaining to, or resembling putty.
Slime
(obsolete) Jew’s slime (bitumen).
Putty
(transitive) To fix or fill using putty.
Slime
A friend; a homie.
Putty
A kind of thick paste or cement compounded of whiting, or soft carbonate of lime, and linseed oil, when applied beaten or kneaded to the consistence of dough, - used in fastening glass in sashes, stopping crevices, and for similar purposes.
Slime
(transitive) To coat with slime.
Putty
A ball made of composition and not gutta percha.
Slime
To besmirch or disparage.
Putty
A kind of gaiter of waterproof cloth wrapped around the leg, used by soldiers, etc.
Slime
To carve (fish), removing the offal.
Putty
To cement, or stop, with putty.
Slime
Soft, moist earth or clay, having an adhesive quality; viscous mud.
As it [Nilus] ebbs, the seedsmanUpon the slime and ooze scatters his grain.
Putty
A dough-like mixture of whiting and boiled linseed oil; used especially to patch woodwork or secure panes of glass
Slime
Any mucilaginous substance; any substance of a dirty nature, that is moist, soft, and adhesive.
Putty
Apply putty in order to fix or fill;
Putty the window sash
Slime
Bitumen.
Slime had they for mortar.
Putty
A color resembling unbleached wool or linen.
The room was painted in a calming putty hue.
Slime
Mud containing metallic ore, obtained in the preparatory dressing.
Slime
A mucuslike substance which exudes from the bodies of certain animals.
Slime
To smear with slime.
Slime
Any thick messy substance
Slime
Cover or stain with slime;
The snake slimed his victim
Slime
A derogatory term referring to morally reprehensible individuals.
He called the traitor slime for his betrayal.
Slime
The soft, moist part of a substance.
The slime of the aloe vera plant is beneficial for the skin.
Slime
A viscous secretion of some animals.
Snails leave a trail of slime behind them.
Common Curiosities
Can slime and putty dry out?
Yes, both can dry out if not stored properly.
Is it safe to eat slime or putty?
No, neither should be ingested and should be kept away from small children.
Can putty bounce?
Yes, when molded into a ball, putty can bounce.
Are both slime and putty used for play?
Yes, both are used for play, but putty also has practical applications.
What's a common use for putty in homes?
Putty is often used to seal gaps in windows.
Can I use putty to repair small holes in walls?
Yes, putty is often used for minor wall repairs.
Can I add color to slime?
Yes, slime can be made in various colors using food coloring or paint.
How is the texture of slime different from putty?
Slime is gooey and stretchy, while putty is denser and moldable.
Is slime always sticky?
Slime is generally sticky, but the stickiness can vary based on its ingredients.
How do I store slime to prevent it from drying out?
Store slime in an airtight container.
Are there commercial brands of slime and putty?
Yes, both are available commercially in various brands and forms.
Is slime safe for children?
Most commercial slimes are safe for children, but always supervise play and check for non-toxic labels.
Can slime be made without borax?
Yes, there are various recipes to make slime without borax.
Can I make putty at home?
Yes, there are various DIY putty recipes available online.
Is putty flammable?
Some types of putty can be flammable; always check the label for safety information.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
