noun
Uncommon
glue
gloo
Glue (noun) means a sticky substance used to join things together. Example: “He used glue to fix the broken handle back onto the mug.”
noun
1
A sticky substance used to join things together.
"He used glue to fix the broken handle back onto the mug."
"Be careful with that tube of glue, because it dries very quickly on your fingers."
"The children covered the table with newspaper before they opened the glue."
2
Something that holds people or things together figuratively.
"Shared humour was the glue that held the friend group together."
"Her patience was the glue that kept the busy household running smoothly."
"Music has always been the glue between our two very different families."
verb
1
To join something using glue.
"She glued the photos into the scrapbook."
"I glued the loose tile back onto the kitchen wall this morning."
"Could you glue these two pieces of wood together while I find the clamps?"
2
(informal) To fix one's attention firmly on something.
"He was glued to the television during the final match."
"Half the office was glued to their phones while the news broke."
"My little brother stays glued to his game console all weekend."
How to use glue
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA sticky adhesive, or figuratively, whatever holds something together.
Common mistake
"Glued to" something (like a screen) means paying very close, fixed attention to it — not literally stuck.
Common pairings
glue together
glued to the screen
a stick of glue
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Word forms
- Plural
- glues
- Third person singular
- glues
- Past tense
- glued
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
He used _____ to fix the broken handle back onto the mug.
Etymology
From Old French glu, from Late Latin glus, tracing back to Latin gluten — the same root that gives us the word "gluten."
Related words
Rhymes for glue
See all rhymes for glue →Frequently asked questions
What does “glue” mean?
The word “glue” means a sticky substance used to join things together. In plain terms, a sticky adhesive, or figuratively, whatever holds something together.
How do you pronounce “glue”?
“Glue” is pronounced gloo (/ɡluː/ in IPA).
How do you use “glue” in a sentence?
Here is “glue” used in a sentence: “He used glue to fix the broken handle back onto the mug.”
What part of speech is “glue”?
Depending on how it is used, “glue” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “glue” come from?
The word “glue” comes from Late Latin. From Old French glu, from Late Latin glus, tracing back to Latin gluten — the same root that gives us the word "gluten.".
Is “glue” a common word?
“Glue” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “glue” have?
“Glue” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a sticky substance used to join things together.
What is the difference between 'glue' and 'adhesive'?
Glue is a specific type of sticky substance used to join things together, while adhesive is the broader technical term covering all bonding materials, including tapes, epoxies, and pastes as well as glue. In everyday speech, glue is often used loosely to mean any adhesive, but adhesive is the more precise umbrella term.
What does it mean when someone says a person is 'glued to' a screen?
This is the informal verb sense of glue, meaning to fix one's attention firmly on something. "Glued to the TV" means someone is watching intently and not looking away, using glue figuratively rather than literally.
What is the figurative meaning of 'glue' as a noun?
Figuratively, glue can describe something that holds people or things together, such as "shared values are the glue of the team." This sense extends the literal idea of a sticky bonding substance to relationships, organizations, or ideas.
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