Final answer:
A hydrocolloid is a suspension of particles in water that slows down or stops the flow of the liquid, solidifying it into a gel. The underlined sentence refers to a substance's restriction of flow or its viscosity.
Step-by-step explanation:
A hydrocolloid is a suspension of particles in water where the particles are molecules that bind to water and to one another. This results in the particles slowing down or stopping the flow of the liquid, causing it to solidify into a gel. The underlined sentence refers to a substance's restriction of flow or its viscosity. Viscosity is a measure of a fluid's resistance to flow and is influenced by factors such as particle size and concentration in a colloid.