glue

[gloo]

noun

1. a hard, impure, protein gelatin, obtained by boiling skins, hoofs, and other animal substances in water, that when melted or diluted is a strong adhesive.

2. any of various solutions or preparations of this substance, used as an adhesive.

3. any of various other solutions or preparations that can be used as adhesives.

verb (used with object)

glued, gluing 

1. to join or fasten with glue.

   Synonyms: plaster, cement, stick, gum, paste

2. to cover or smear (something) with glue (sometimes followed byup ).

3. to fix or attach firmly with or as if with glue; make adhere closely.

   to glue a model ship together.

glue

/ ɡluː /

noun

1. any natural or synthetic adhesive, esp a sticky gelatinous substance prepared by boiling animal products such as bones, skin, and horns

2. any other sticky or adhesive substance

verb

1. (tr) to join or stick together with or as if with glue

Other Word Forms

• gluer noun
• gluelike adjective
• gluey adjective
• reglue verb (used with object)

Word History and Origins

Origin of glue¹

1300–50; (noun) Middle English glu, gleu < Old French glu < Latin glūt- (stem of glūs ); cognate with Greek gloiós gum, anything sticky; (v.) Middle English glywen, glewen, derivative of the noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of glue¹

C14: from Old French glu, from Late Latin glūs; compare Greek gloios

Example Sentences

And when there was a chance the trio could drift apart, Ficken acted as the glue keeping them together.

From Los Angeles Times

"My mum's the glue, she's a rock, but she's crumbling. I'm a bit like my dad: stubborn, strong, fight."

From BBC

He said his wife Katie was "the glue that held all the great elements of our families together".

From BBC

They glue tiny radio transmitters to their backs and release them.

From Los Angeles Times

One afternoon, she invited Brink to her home, where the dining table was set with scissors, glue sticks, stacks of magazines and knickknacks.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• cement 
• paste 
• plaster