adhesive
ad-HEE-siv
/ædˈhiːsɪv/
A substance used for sticking objects or materials together; sticky or clinging.
While 'glue' is a common, everyday term, 'adhesive' is a broader, more professional category that includes tapes, pastes, epoxies, and polymers designed for specific archival or industrial properties.
The story behind the word. The word traces back to the Latin verb 'adhaerere', which meant to cling or stick to. By the 17th century, English adopted it to describe physical stickiness, eventually evolving into the noun we use today for everything from glue sticks to industrial epoxies.
Word relationships
- glue: 'Glue' typically refers to liquid, water-based bonding agents, whereas 'adhesive' covers tapes, resins, and dry-mounting sheets.
- binder: A 'binder' holds pigments or particles together in a mixture, while an 'adhesive' joins two separate surfaces.
- solvent: A solvent dissolves or breaks down bonds, whereas an adhesive creates them.
- repellent: A repellent prevents substances from sticking or adhering to a surface.
Commonly confused with
- cohesive: 'Adhesive' refers to sticking to a different surface, while 'cohesive' refers to sticking to itself.
Word family
- adhere (verb): To stick fast to a surface.
- adhesion (noun): The action or state of sticking to a surface.
Collocations
- archival adhesive
- liquid adhesive
- double-sided adhesive
- adhesive properties
Example sentences
- "When assembling a scrapbook, always choose an acid-free adhesive to prevent your photos from yellowing over time." A guide on archival preservation of photographs.
- "The double-sided adhesive tape allowed her to mount the delicate lace border without any messy liquid spillover." A description of specialized crafting tape.
Memory hook
Think of 'add' + 'hesive'. You 'add' something to a page and make it 'hesitate' to leave by using a sticky substance. Adhesive adds things together so they stay.
When not to use
Do not use 'adhesive' when referring to emotional attachment or social bonding; stick to physical substances.
Fun facts
- Geckos can cling to ceilings without liquid adhesives; they use microscopic hairs that exploit van der Waals forces to stick to surfaces.
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