glue

glue — noun

1. a thick, sticky substance that you spread on surfaces to make them stick togethe

1.nounA2
Definition

a thick, sticky substance that you spread on surfaces to make them stick together permanently, used for repairing broken objects or making things by hand

Example

Linh used strong glue to fix the broken handle on her favourite mug.

collocation: strong glue / tube of glue

A tube of glue costs very little at the stationery shop near Jiwoo's school.

countable: a tube of glue

Common collocations
  • strong glue
  • white glue
  • wood glue
  • tube of glue
  • bottle of glue
  • apply glue
  • spread glue
  • dries clear
Synonyms
  • adhesive

    more formal and technical; used in industrial or scientific contexts rather than everyday speech

  • paste

    a softer, often water-based adhesive used mainly for paper and wallpaper, not as strong as glue

  • cement

    used for very strong bonding of materials like rubber, plastic, or metal; implies greater strength than glue

Grammar Patterns

a tube/bottle/jar of glue

glue + [noun: bottle/tube/type]

[verb: apply/spread/use] + glue

Usage Note

Uncountable when referring to the substance in general ('She bought some glue'), but countable when referring to specific types or products ('There are many glues on the market').

Common Mistakes

I stuck the paper with a glue.
I stuck the paper with glue.
Glue is usually uncountable; do not use 'a glue' for the substance.
Please glue the pieces together with adhesive.
Please fix the pieces together with glue.
'Adhesive' is more technical; 'glue' is the everyday word for this substance.

2. a person, quality, or activity that keeps a group of people united and feeling c

2.nounB2
Definition

a person, quality, or activity that keeps a group of people united and feeling connected to one another — for example, a family member who organises gatherings, or a shared tradition that everyone values

Example

Music has been the glue that holds the three sisters together despite living in different countries.

pattern: the glue that holds [group] together

For the team, shared goals were the glue that kept them moving in the same direction.

Common collocations
  • the glue that holds together
  • the glue that binds
  • social glue
  • emotional glue
  • family glue
  • act as the glue
Synonyms
  • bond

    focuses on the emotional connection between individuals rather than the force that creates it

  • link

    more neutral; describes any connection, not necessarily one that unifies a whole group

  • tie

    suggests a personal relationship or obligation, often between two people rather than a whole group

Antonyms
  • divider

    something that pushes people apart rather than bringing them together

Grammar Patterns

the glue that holds/binds/keeps [something] together

[possessive] + glue

Usage Note

Always used with 'the' or a possessive determiner ('their glue'). The metaphor describes an abstract binding force — never a physical substance. Typically followed by a relative clause ('that holds…', 'that keeps…', 'that connects…').

Common Mistakes

A glue of the team is hard work.
Hard work is the glue that holds the team together.
This sense always uses a definite or possessive determiner, and works best with a 'that'-clause showing what is bound.

glue — verb

Word family

  • gluey
    adjectiveC1
  • gluelike
    adjectiveC2

Synonym discussion

Sense: noun/2

While 'glue' (noun/2) describes the unifying force itself, 'bond' emphasises the emotional connection that results from that force — a team has a strong bond because the team leader acts as the glue. 'Link' is the most neutral term; it describes any connection between two or more things without implying depth or emotion. 'Tie' suggests a personal or family obligation — you have ties to your hometown whether you feel close to it or not. 'Cohesion' is the most formal of the group and focuses on the structural integrity of a group rather than emotional closeness. Use 'glue' when you want to name the active force holding things together ('Grandma was the glue of the family'); use 'bond' when you talk about the resulting connection ('the bond between the sisters never weakened').

bond ↗link ↗tie ↗cohesion ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Phrases

  • the glue that holds
  • glued to the spot
  • glued to the screen

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

The word 'glue' comes from Old French 'glu', meaning a sticky substance made from animal parts. French inherited it from Latin 'glūs' (genitive 'glūtis'), which referred to any sticky substance used as an adhesive. The Latin root is also the source of the word 'gluten' — a protein that makes dough sticky. The verb form appeared in English in the 1300s, and by the 1800s writers were already using 'glued to' as a metaphor for being unable to move away from a place or activity.