adhesive
Americanadjective
-
coated with glue, paste, mastic, or other sticky substance.
adhesive bandages.
-
sticking fast; sticky; clinging.
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Physics. of or relating to the molecular force that exists in the area of contact between unlike bodies and that acts to unite them.
noun
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a substance that causes something to adhere, as glue or rubber cement.
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Philately. a postage stamp with a gummed back, as distinguished from one embossed or printed on an envelope or card.
adjective
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able or designed to adhere; sticky
adhesive tape
-
tenacious or clinging
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Etymology
Origin of adhesive
First recorded in 1660–70; adhes(ion) + -ive
Explanation
An adhesive is something sticky that holds things together. Use an adhesive to repair a cracked plate. Adhesive comes from the Latin adhaerere, meaning "stick to," which is precisely what something adhesive does — it sticks to things. An adhesive bonds surfaces together. It's the sticky side on a roll of duct tape that causes it to be so effective. The word can be used to describe both the substance itself: to use an adhesive, for example — or its property of stickiness: an adhesive bandage sticks to the skin.
Vocabulary lists containing adhesive
The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian
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100 Great Words from "Fahrenheit 451" -- Part I Vocabulary
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"Modern Automotive Technology," Vocabulary from Section 1
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The team found that particle networks, adhesive interactions, and space-filling effects all contribute to the material's resistance to volume changes.
From Science Daily • May 13, 2026
Of those factors, one proves more adhesive than the rest.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 23, 2026
Carlos worked for 25 years at a small adhesive company, where he became plant manager.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 23, 2026
Lynsey says you should avoid anything with adhesive labels as these can clog the filter.
From BBC • Feb. 18, 2026
Phoebe marked the spots with pieces of adhesive tape and collected the hairs in an envelope.
From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
