Vocabulary Spotlight

Adhesion

Part of Speech: Noun

Definition: The action or process of sticking or holding together, typically referring to surfaces or materials.

“Good adhesion is essential for paint to stay on a wall without peeling.”

Pronunciation

[ad-HEE-zhuhn]

Synonyms, Antonyms & Related Words

Synonyms

Bonding
Attachment
Clinging
Cohesion
Sticking

Antonyms

Separation
Detachment
Division
Disconnection
Looseness

Related Words

Adhesive
Stickiness
Surface tension

Word Origin

“Adhesion” comes from the Latin “adhaerere,” meaning “to stick to.”

Word Family

Noun: Adhesion – The act or state of sticking.

Adjective: Adhesive – Capable of sticking or bonding.

Verb: Adhere – To stick firmly to a surface or idea.

Mnemonics

Think “Adhere with Precision” – Adhesion is the act of sticking together with precision and firmness.

Industry-specific Usage

Engineering

In engineering, adhesion between materials affects structural integrity and durability.

Medicine

In medical terms, adhesion can refer to tissues abnormally sticking together after surgery.

Physics

Adhesion is important in physics for understanding molecular forces that cause surfaces to stick.

In Context

Adhesion describes the quality of sticking or binding, used in various fields to indicate attachment at molecular or structural levels.

Vocabulary Challenges

1. Which is a synonym of “Adhesion”?

Bonding
Separation
Division
Looseness

‘Bonding’ is correct as it refers to the quality of holding together.

2. Fill in the blank: The glue provided strong _______ to keep the pieces firmly attached.

detachment
adhesion
division
disconnection

‘Adhesion’ is appropriate as it describes the glue’s quality of sticking to surfaces.

3. In which context would “adhesion” be MOST appropriate?

Separating materials
Ignoring a physical bond
Breaking apart connections
Describing how well paint sticks to a surface

‘Describing how well paint sticks to a surface’ is correct as adhesion refers to the quality of bonding.