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

There were robust volumes in adhesive technologies, with a tailwind from forward buying, they say.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026

Evidence gathered from the headrest of a seat in her car using adhesive tape was sent to the US for DNA testing, but no profile could be found.

From BBC ● Jul. 28, 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 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

“Can I take one of these rolls of adhesive tape?”

From "The Book of Dust: La Belle Sauvage" by Philip Pullman

The German consumer-goods and adhesives group nudged up its sales-growth guidance for the year after revenue came in ahead of analysts’ estimates, driven by the adhesives business.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 6, 2026

One solution has been to develop water soluble adhesives, external.

From BBC ● Jul. 27, 2026

He said adhesives and other raw materials used in making shoes had fuelled the fire.

From Barron's ● Jul. 9, 2026

Safety and industrial sales increased 4.1%, as strong demand in electrical markets, adhesives and abrasives offset continued challenges in the vehicle aftermarket business.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2025

The regular post cards produced by the new contractors did not make their appearance until several months after the first adhesives of the new type were out.

From Canada: Its Postage Stamps and Postal Stationery by Clifton Armstrong Howes

Related Words

• gummy
• sticky