First Known Use: 15th century
Dictionary
adhere
verb ad·here \ad-ˈhir, əd-\
: to stick to something : to attach firmly to something
ad·heredad·her·ing
Full Definition of ADHERE
intransitive verb
1
: to give support or maintain loyalty
2
obsolete : accord 3
3
: to hold fast or stick by or as if by gluing, suction, grasping, or fusing
4
: to bind oneself to observance <adhere to the rules>
transitive verb
: to cause to stick fast
See adhere defined for English-language learners
See adhere defined for kids
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Origin of ADHERE
Middle French or Latin; Middle French adhérer, from Latin adhaerēre, from ad- + haerēre to stick
Synonym Discussion of ADHERE
stick, adhere, cohere, cling, cleave mean to become closely attached. stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together <couldn't get the label to stick>. adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together <antibodies adhering to a virus>. cohere suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass <eggs will make the mixture cohere>. cling implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils <clinging to a capsized boat>. cleave stresses strength of attachment <the wet shirt cleaved to his back>.
Rhymes with ADHERE
Aesir, Ajmer, all clear, ambeer, appear, arrear, Asir, Ayrshire, besmear, by ear, Cape Fear, career, cashier, cashmere, Cheshire, chimere, clavier, cohere, compeer, destrier, dog-ear, emir, Empire, endear, ensphere, eyrir, Fafnir, footgear, frontier, gambier, Goodyear, headgear, inhere, Izmir, Kashmir, kefir, killdeer, Landseer, leap year, life peer, light-year, man-year, menhir, midyear, mishear, monsieur, mouse-ear, mule deer, musk deer, nadir, near beer, New Year, off year, out-year, pickeer, portiere, premier, premiere, red deer, redear, rehear, reindeer, revere, revers, Robespierre, roe deer, root beer, santir, severe, Shakespeare, sincere, slick-ear, small beer, spruce beer, steer clear, Tangier, tapir, tin ear, uprear, Vanir, veneer, Vermeer, vizier, voir dire, wheatear, Wiltshire, wind shear, wood ear, worm gear, Ymir, Yorkshire, zaire, Zaire
ADHERE Defined for Kids
adhere
verb ad·here \ad-ˈhir\
ad·heredad·her·ing
Definition of ADHERE for Kids
1
: to stick tight : cling <The stamps adhered to the envelope.>
2
: to act in the way that is required by <adhere to the rules>
Medical Dictionary
adhere
verb ad·here \ad-ˈhi(ə)r, əd-\
ad·heredad·her·ing
Medical Definition of ADHERE
intransitive verb
1
: to hold fast or stick by or as if by gluing, suction, grasping, or fusing <a gauze bandage adhering to the wound>
2
: to become joined (as in pathological adhesion) <the lung sometimes adheres to the pleura>
transitive verb
: to cause to stick fast
—ad·her·ence \-ˈhir-ən(t)s\ noun
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