adhesive

American  

[ad-hee-siv, -ziv] / ædˈhi sɪv, -zɪv /

adjective

1. coated with glue, paste, mastic, or other sticky substance.

   adhesive bandages.

2. sticking fast; sticky; clinging.

3. Physics. of or relating to the molecular force that exists in the area of contact between unlike bodies and that acts to unite them.

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noun

• adhesives
  plural

1. a substance that causes something to adhere, as glue or rubber cement.

2. adhesive tape.

3. Philately. a postage stamp with a gummed back, as distinguished from one embossed or printed on an envelope or card.

adhesive British  

/ ədˈhiːsɪv /

adjective

1. able or designed to adhere; sticky

   adhesive tape

2. tenacious or clinging

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noun

1. a substance used for sticking objects together, such as glue, cement, or paste

adhesive Scientific  

/ ăd-hē′sĭv /

1. A substance, such as paste or cement, that causes two surfaces to stick together. Adhesives are made of gelatin or other substances, such as epoxy, resin, or polyethylene.

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1. Relating to adhesion.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• adhesiveness
  noun
• nonadhesiveness
  noun
• semiadhesiveness
  noun
• unadhesiveness
  noun
• nonadhesive
  adjective
• semiadhesive
  adjective
• unadhesive
  adjective
• adhesively
  adverb
• nonadhesively
  adverb
• semiadhesively
  adverb
• unadhesively
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• adhesives
  plural

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.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

adhesive adhesives

The French adhesive manufacturing company continues to show improved cost discipline and higher-margin products are contributing more positively, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026

"The ants it preys on have adhesive pads on their feet, so the contraction of the bundle of tension lines has to overcome a force of many times the ant's body weight to lift it."

From Science Daily ● Jun. 26, 2026

But Hong Kong-based startup PointFit offers a less intrusive alternative using an adhesive patch, whose tiny sensor reads levels of biomarkers like glucose and cortisol from the sweat on users' skin.

From Barron's ● Jun. 18, 2026

The adhesive CreateMe uses is thermoset, which means that ironing or washing machine temperatures aren't enough to melt it and make the clothes fall apart, insists Myers.

From BBC ● May 18, 2026

He puts the needle back in its case and sticks an adhesive bandage on the injection site.

From "Divergent" by Veronica Roth

The Duo’s display structure requires a sandwich-like structure of carbon-based films layered with electrodes, high-strength glass, specialized adhesives and a titanium support plate, all of which make it substantially more expensive than pervious models.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 25, 2026

PCE is widely used in dry cleaning and can also be found in consumer products including arts and crafts adhesives, spot removers and stainless steel polish.

From Science Daily ● Sep. 7, 2026

The German consumer-goods group, which produces adhesives, haircare lines, and laundry products, booked 4.7% organic sales growth over the April-June period, picking up pace from the year’s first quarter and beating analysts’ estimates.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

Safe adhesives, like lash glue, will keep it in place.

From BBC ● Jul. 30, 2026

Afterwards a republic sprang up, and the present adhesives bear the imprint of Liberty.

From Peeps at Postage Stamps by Stanley Currie Johnson

Related Words

• gummy
• sticky