adhesion
C1Formal / Technical
Definition
Meaning
The action or process of sticking firmly to a surface or object.
The ability of a substance to stick to another; support, commitment, or agreement to a plan, idea, or set of principles; the abnormal union of bodily tissues due to inflammation or surgery.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
The term has distinct literal (physical sticking) and figurative (loyalty, agreement) meanings. In technical contexts (medicine, engineering), it is highly specific.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical difference. Pronunciation varies as per IPA.
Connotations
Identical.
Frequency
Slightly more common in technical/medical contexts in both varieties.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
adhesion of X to Yadhesion to (principles/plan)in adhesion withVocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Adhesion contract (legal term for a standardised contract)”
- “Adhesion to the cause”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Refers to customer loyalty or agreement to terms: 'The campaign aimed to increase adhesion to the new subscription model.'
Academic
Common in biology, physics, and medicine: 'The study examined intercellular adhesion molecules.'
Everyday
Used for glue or tape: 'The adhesion of this wallpaper is terrible.'
Technical
Precise meaning in engineering and medicine: 'Post-surgical adhesions can cause complications.'
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The new coating adheres poorly.
- Please adhere to the guidelines.
American English
- The label didn't adhere properly.
- All members must adhere to the policy.
adverb
British English
- The tape held adhesively.
- The cells bonded adhesively.
American English
- The glue set adhesively.
- The film adhered adhesively to the glass.
adjective
British English
- Use an adhesive bandage.
- The adhesive qualities were tested.
American English
- She bought adhesive hooks.
- The material has strong adhesive properties.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- This glue gives good adhesion.
- The adhesion of the stamp was weak.
- The doctor said the adhesion after the operation was normal.
- We need better adhesion to the company's safety rules.
- The treaty secured the adhesion of several key nations.
- Poor surface preparation will result in inadequate adhesion of the paint.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of ADHESION like ADHESIVE - both involve sticking.
Conceptual Metaphor
LOYALTY IS ADHESION (e.g., 'He showed strong adhesion to the party line.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'адгезия' (scientific/technical sticking) vs. 'приверженность' (loyalty/commitment). 'Adhesion' can cover both.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'adherence' and 'adhesion' interchangeably. 'Adherence' is typically for abstract principles (adherence to rules), while 'adhesion' is for physical sticking or formal agreement.
Practice
Quiz
In a medical context, 'adhesion' most commonly refers to:
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Adhesion' is often physical sticking or formal alliance. 'Adherence' is typically used for abstract commitment to rules or ideas.
Yes, in a formal sense meaning 'support or allegiance', e.g., 'the adhesion of the provinces to the union'.
It is common in technical and formal writing but less frequent in everyday casual speech.
A standardised contract offered on a 'take it or leave it' basis, where the weaker party has little power to negotiate terms.