glue

noun

\ ˈglü

Definition of glue

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : any of various strong adhesive substances especially : a hard protein chiefly gelatinous substance that absorbs water to form a viscous solution with strong adhesive properties and that is obtained by cooking down collagenous materials (such as hides or bones)

b : a solution of glue used for sticking things together

2 : something that binds together enough social glue … to satisfy the human desire for community— E. D. Hirsch, Jr.

glue

verb

glued; gluing also glueing

Definition of glue (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cause to stick tightly with or as if with glue gluing the parts together used that war to glue together a frail story— Gloria Emerson

2 : to cause to remain continuously or to be fixed steadily —usually used with to the spectators were glued to their seatsall eyes glued to the TV screen

Other Words from glue Synonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about glue

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Synonyms for glue

Synonyms: Noun

adhesive, bond, cement, size

Examples of glue in a Sentence

Noun

The hardware store offers several different glues. used glue to stick the photo in the album

Verb

I glued the pieces of the cup back together.

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

With no elite strength but no glaring holes in his game either, Weatherspoon has a fairly clear pathway to becoming a useful glue guy in the pros. — Jeremy Woo, SI.com, "2019 NBA Draft Big Board 7.0: Top 100 Prospect Rankings," 5 June 2019 And while there may not be an appetite for glue-stick cheese, there’s certainly an appetite for looking at it. — Rebecca Jennings, Vox, "YouTube is full of cringey, clickbait DIY channels. They’re even weirder than you think.," 12 Nov. 2018 To reiterate, the mandate was viewed in 2012 as the glue that held the ACA together. — Washington Post, "The Health 202: Three reasons Obamacare might not get another big SCOTUS moment," 12 June 2018 Marriott’s takeover of Starwood created the world’s biggest hotel company, with 30 brands and more than 1.2 million rooms, and the company’s loyalty program serves as the glue that holds the sprawling empire together. — Bloomberg, Fortune, "Marriott Announces New Loyalty Program and Rewards Package," 17 Apr. 2018 Communal meals have historically served as a glue, keeping communities of color together in the face of adversity and systemic oppression, and this event is no different. — Ludmila Leiva, Allure, "How This Brunch Event Is Empowering Women and Non-Binary People of Color in the Trump Era," 7 Mar. 2018 Gel is too gloppy, too glossy and too glue-like for my thick, straight strands, which... — Jacob Gallagher, WSJ, "We Tested 50 Men’s Hair Products. Here Are the Best," 8 May 2019 Using floral glue, start gluing the flowers into the greenery. 5. — Mark Kintzel, Good Housekeeping, "A Wedding Stylist's Guide To Making Your Own Beautiful Flower Crown At Home," 18 Sep. 2017 Secure the plywood to the three-sided hardwood frame with glue and nails. — Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "Three Ways to Build Your Own Shelves," 24 Jan. 2019

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Jurickson Profar has also kept Pinder glued to the bench. — Dan Arritt/correspondent, The Mercury News, "A’s send Mengden to minors after rough outing," 6 June 2019 Mistake 2: Skipping the Primer Don’t forget to prime PVC pipes and fittings before gluing the pieces together. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "The 5 Biggest Plumbing Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)," 14 Jan. 2019 If your excuse for being glued to the couch is a really good book, finish it on the road. — Shelby Deering, Good Housekeeping, "5 Surprising Ways Your Phone Can Get You Off the Couch," 15 May 2019 Edge-grain counters are made of long, thick strips of wood that are glued together with the edge grain facing up. — Joe Lindsey, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Countertop Materials," 9 May 2019 If your lashes are sparse, some salons may suggest 3-D lashes, or clusters, which are three hairs glued together, to give your eyes a more voluminous look. — Katheryn Erickson, Glamour, "Your Everything Guide to Eyelash Extensions," 28 Mar. 2019 To keep their kids from being glued to their screens, Mark and Tiffany have a phone curfew for when the phones must be turned off. — Marie Milano, Country Living, "Shark Tank's Mark Cuban and His Wife Tiffany's Marriage Is Worth More Than Money Can Buy," 10 Mar. 2019 For each pair of strips, place one strip on top of another and line up all the edges then glue those two strips together. — Megan Arnett, Scientific American, "Just Keep Spinning--Find the Best Pinwheel Design!," 29 Mar. 2018 FaceTime and Messages Many of us spend big chunks of that glued-to-the-screen time with text messaging, so Apple made major additions to the Messages app, bringing it more in line with third-party apps like Snapchat. — Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, "iOS 12, thoroughly reviewed," 17 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'glue.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.