glue
B1Neutral (common in everyday, technical, and figurative use)
Definition
Meaning
A sticky substance used for joining objects together.
Anything that holds things together or causes a strong bond, whether physically, emotionally, or conceptually.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily a noun denoting a physical adhesive. The verb form means 'to join with glue.' Figurative use ('to be glued to something') is highly common and idiomatic.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant lexical differences. Spelling and pronunciation are consistent. The brand name 'glue stick' is universal.
Connotations
Identical in both varieties. The figurative sense is equally strong.
Frequency
Equally common and used in identical contexts.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
glue somethingglue something togetherglue something to/onto somethingbe glued to something (figurative)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “be glued to the screen/TV”
- “glued to the spot”
- “nose in a book”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphor for a unifying force: 'Shared values are the glue that holds our team together.'
Academic
In materials science, refers to specific adhesive compounds: 'The collagen acts as a biological glue.'
Everyday
Referring to crafts, repairs, or children's activities: 'We need some glue to fix this broken vase.'
Technical
Specifies types like PVA, cyanoacrylate, or resin-based adhesives.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- You'll need to glue the model pieces carefully.
- He was absolutely glued to the football match.
American English
- Just glue the label onto the package.
- The kids are glued to their tablets.
adverb
British English
- (Not standard; no adverb form. Use 'with glue' or 'stickily' for a different concept.)
American English
- (Not standard; no adverb form. Use 'with glue' or 'stickily' for a different concept.)
adjective
British English
- The glue smell was overwhelming in the craft room.
- We're out of glue sticks.
American English
- I need a glue gun for this project.
- Watch out for the glue trap.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- I used glue to stick the paper.
- The glue is white and sticky.
- Can you pass me the glue, please? We need to fix this book.
- He glued the two pieces of wood together.
- This epoxy glue forms a much stronger bond than ordinary paste.
- She was glued to her phone all evening, following the news.
- Mutual trust served as the social glue that prevented the community from fragmenting.
- The artist glued found objects onto the canvas to create a textured collage.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of 'BLUE GLUE' – it's a common colour for school paste, and it rhymes.
Conceptual Metaphor
ATTACHMENT IS GLUE / ATTENTION IS BEING GLUED (e.g., 'glued to the news').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid confusing 'glue' (клей) with 'clay' (глина) due to phonetic similarity.
- The verb 'to glue' is клеить, not a direct cognate.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I glued the picture on the wall.' (Better: 'I glued the picture to the wall.')
- Using 'glue' as a countable noun incorrectly: 'I need two glues.' (Non-standard; say 'two types of glue').
Practice
Quiz
In the idiom 'glued to the spot', what does 'glue' metaphorically represent?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Primarily uncountable (e.g., 'a pot of glue'). It can be countable when referring to types ('specialised glues').
'Glue' is a general term. 'Paste' often refers to a thicker, water-based adhesive, like for paper.
No, it's very commonly used figuratively to mean anything that creates a strong bond or holds attention.
The regular past tense is 'glued' (e.g., 'I glued it yesterday').