adhesion

noun ad·he·sion \ad-ˈhē-zhən, əd-\

: the act of adhering; especially : the act of sticking or attaching to something

medical : a condition in which body tissues that are supposed to be separate grow together because of swelling after surgery

Full Definition of ADHESION

: steady or firm attachment : adherence

: the action or state of adhering

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

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

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

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

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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

Rhymes with ADHESION

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

ADHESION Defined for Kids

adhesion

noun ad·he·sion \ad-ˈhē-zhən\

Definition of ADHESION for Kids

: the act or state of sticking <They tested the adhesion of the paint to the wall.>

Medical Dictionary

adhesion

noun ad·he·sion \ad-ˈhē-zhən, əd-\

Medical Definition of ADHESION

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

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

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

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