adhesion

ad·he·sion

noun \ad-ˈhē-zhən, əd-\

Definition of ADHESION

1

: steady or firm attachment : adherence

2

: the action or state of adhering

3

: the abnormal union of separate tissue surfaces by new fibrous tissue resulting from an inflammatory process; also : the newly formed uniting tissue

4

: agreement to join <adhesion of all nations to a copyright convention>

5

: the molecular attraction exerted between the surfaces of bodies in contact

— ad·he·sion·al \-ˈhēzh-nəl, -ˈhē-zhə-n^əl\ adjective

Examples of ADHESION

1. the adhesion of the coating
2. the adhesion of the mud to my shoes

Origin of ADHESION

French or Latin; French adhésion, from Latin adhaesion-, adhaesio, from adhaerēre

First Known Use: 1624

Related to ADHESION

Synonyms

adherence, bonding, cling

Antonyms

unsticking

Related Words

agglutination, clumping, cohesion; adhesiveness, attachment, cohesiveness, tenacity; cementing, gluing (also glueing)

Near Antonyms

alienation, disaffection, estrangement, separation

Rhymes with ADHESION

Arlesian, Cartesian, cohesion, Ephesian, Etesian, Gaspesian, Salesian

ad·he·sion

noun \ad-ˈhē-zhən, əd-\   (Medical Dictionary)

Medical Definition of ADHESION

1

: the action or state of adhering; specifically : a sticking together of substances (as of glue and wood or of parts united by growth)

2

a : the abnormal union of surfaces normally separate by the formation of new fibrous tissue resulting from an inflammatory process; also : the newly formed uniting tissue <pleural adhesions> b : the union of wound edges especially by first intention

3

: the molecular attraction exerted between the surfaces of bodies in contact—compare cohesion 2

—ad·he·sion·al \-ˈhēzh-nəl, -ˈhē-zhən-^əl\ (audio pronunciation) adjective