¹glue

noun \ˈglü\

: a substance used to stick things tightly together

Full Definition of GLUE

a : 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 (as hides or bones)

b : a solution of glue used for sticking things together

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

— glu·ey \ˈglü-ē\ adjective

— glu·i·ly \ˈglü-ə-lē\ adverb

See glue defined for English-language learners

See glue defined for kids

Origin of GLUE

Middle English glu, from Anglo-French, from Late Latin glut-, glus; akin to Latin gluten glue — more at clay

First Known Use: 14th century

Related to GLUE

Synonyms: adhesive, bond, cement, size

Rhymes with GLUE

blue, boo, brew, chew, clew, clue, coo, coup, crew, cue, dew, do, doux, due, ewe, few, flu, flue, fou, gnu, goo, hew, hue, Jew, Koo, lieu, loo, mew, moo, moue, mu, new, nu, ooh, pew, phew, pooh, q, queue, roux, rue, screw, shoe, shoo, shrew, Sioux, skew, slew, slough, slue, smew, sou, sous, spew, sprue, stew, strew, sue, Sue, thew, through, to, too, true, two, u, view, whew, who, woo, xu, yew, you, zoo

²glue

verb

: to make (something) stick to something else by using glue

: to stay in one place because of interest, shock, excitement, etc.

gluedglu·ing also glue·ing

Full Definition of GLUE

transitive verb

: 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>

: to cause to remain continuously or to be fixed steadily —usually used with to <the spectators were glued to their seats> <all eyes glued to the TV screen>

See glue defined for English-language learners

First Known Use of GLUE

14th century

GLUE Defined for Kids