cohesion
the act or state of cohering, uniting, or sticking together.
Physics. the molecular force between particles within a body or substance that acts to unite them.: Compare adhesion (def. 4).
Botany. the congenital union of one part with another.
Linguistics. the property of unity in a written text or a segment of spoken discourse that stems from links among its surface elements, as when words in one sentence are repeated in another, and especially from the fact that some words or phrases depend for their interpretation upon material in preceding or following text, as in the sequence Be assured of this. Most people do not want to fight. However, they will do so when provoked, where this refers to the two sentences that follow, they refers back to most people, do so substitutes for the preceding verb fight, and however relates the clause that follows to the preceding sentence.: Compare coherence (def. 5).
Origin of cohesion
1Other words from cohesion
- co·he·sion·less, adjective
- in·ter·co·he·sion, noun
- non·co·he·sion, noun
Words Nearby cohesion
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use cohesion in a sentence
He wondered aloud about the football team dinner at the hotel the night before the home game, a long-held ritual among big-time college football programs seeking cohesion and focus.
Wisconsin-Nebraska football game canceled after 12 positive coronavirus tests | Chuck Culpepper | October 28, 2020 | Washington PostAs she strives to build cohesion, there’s at least one enthusiastic hire Boler Davis can claim credit for.
This ace engineer powered Amazon through the COVID crisis | Aaron Pressman | October 19, 2020 | FortuneThe cohesion and camaraderie that we relied on in the acute phase is needed now more than ever.
Thank You for the 7 PM Clapping, But Camaraderie Is Needed More Than Ever - Facts So Romantic | Ayala Danzig | October 5, 2020 | NautilusCertain rituals, such as singing and dancing together, are particularly good at amplifying group cohesion and a spirit of generosity.
Why do we miss the rituals put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic? | Sujata Gupta | August 14, 2020 | Science NewsFourteenth century scholar Ibn Khaldūn used the term asabiyah, Arabic for solidarity, to describe the social cohesion that emerges from engaging in collective rituals.
Why do we miss the rituals put on hold by the COVID-19 pandemic? | Sujata Gupta | August 14, 2020 | Science News
“Regardless of any tactical setbacks, the real issue is going to be political cohesion in Afghanistan,” he said.
The more socially conservative libertarian-conservatives worry about family cohesion and erosion of religious belief.
Up To A Point: My Problem With People Who Agree With Me | P. J. O’Rourke | July 20, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTIt destroys not just forest, but also small farms, community cohesion, and water quality.
Our Taste for Cheap Palm Oil Is Killing Chimpanzees | Carrie Arnold | July 11, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTWith Do It Again, is that cohesion musical, sonic, or thematic?
Robyn and Royksopp’s Summertime Soundtrack ‘Do It Again’ | Andrew Romano | May 27, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTFor most voters, internal party cohesion hardly seemed to be the most pressing issue amid a slew of sleaze allegations.
A Sleaze Civil War Engulfs Britain’s Liberal Democrats | Nico Hines | January 24, 2014 | THE DAILY BEASTThe rapid spread of the revolt was not a whit less marvelous than its lack of method or cohesion.
The Red Year | Louis TracyThe people on the eastern side have always strongly opposed anything approaching governmental cohesion with the other side.
The Philippine Islands | John ForemanThe cohesion of these tribes into states was a slow process; the adoption of a general system of government still slower.
Landholding In England | Joseph FisherThere is a common inheritance of memories that never lose their power of cohesion where love and friendship reign in families.
The Leaven in a Great City | Lillian William BettsThe cohesion of the liquid explains it, as our young friend here has said.
Radio Boys Loyalty | Wayne Whipple
British Dictionary definitions for cohesion
/ (kəʊˈhiːʒən) /
the act or state of cohering; tendency to unite
physics the force that holds together the atoms or molecules in a solid or liquid, as distinguished from adhesion
botany the fusion in some plants of flower parts, such as petals, that are usually separate
Origin of cohesion
1Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Scientific definitions for cohesion
[ kō-hē′zhən ]
The force of attraction that holds molecules of a given substance together. It is strongest in solids, less strong in liquids, and least strong in gases. Cohesion of molecules causes drops to form in liquids (as when liquid mercury is poured on a piece of glass), and causes condensing water vapor to form the droplets that make clouds. Compare adhesion.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
Cultural definitions for cohesion
The New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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