cohesion

[ koh-hee-zhuhn ]

noun

1. the act or state of cohering, uniting, or sticking together.
2. Physics. the molecular force between particles within a body or substance that acts to unite them. Compare adhesion ( def 4 ).
3. Botany. the congenital union of one part with another.
4. Linguistics. the property of unity in a written text or a segment of spoken discourse that stems from links among its surface elements, as when words in one sentence are repeated in another, and especially from the fact that some words or phrases depend for their interpretation upon material in preceding or following text, as in the sequence Be assured of this. Most people do not want to fight. However, they will do so when provoked, where this refers to the two sentences that follow, they refers back to most people, do so substitutes for the preceding verb fight, and however relates the clause that follows to the preceding sentence. Compare coherence ( def 5 ).

cohesion

/ kəʊˈhiːʒən /

noun

1. the act or state of cohering; tendency to unite
2. physics the force that holds together the atoms or molecules in a solid or liquid, as distinguished from adhesion
3. botany the fusion in some plants of flower parts, such as petals, that are usually separate

cohesion

/ kō-hē′zhən /

1. The force of attraction that holds molecules of a given substance together. It is strongest in solids, less strong in liquids, and least strong in gases. Cohesion of molecules causes drops to form in liquids (as when liquid mercury is poured on a piece of glass), and causes condensing water vapor to form the droplets that make clouds.
2. Compare adhesion

cohesion

1. The molecular ( see molecule ) attraction or joining of the surfaces of two pieces of the same substance. ( Compare adhesion .)

Other Words From

• co·hesion·less adjective
• inter·co·hesion noun
• nonco·hesion noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of cohesion¹

First recorded in 1670–80; variant of cohaesion, from Latin cohaes(us) “stuck together” (past participle of cohaerēre “to stick, cling together”; cohere ) + -iō -ion

Word History and Origins

Origin of cohesion¹

C17: from Latin cohaesus stuck together, past participle of cohaerēre to cohere

Example Sentences

Additionally, the original Brics states have often struggled to see eye to eye, and cohesion and consensus will be even more difficult to achieve with an expanded membership.

From BBC

"I doubt that the situation would escalate to the level of war. North Korea is exploiting military confrontation to strengthen internal cohesion," Prof Kang said.

From BBC

“Identity politics” can be either helpful to society or destructive of social cohesion and democracy itself.

From Salon

It has hampered any attempt to bring cohesion to the partnerships from goalkeeper Andre Onana forward through the defence to the midfield.

From BBC

The negative is often the multi-format players only turn out for the white-ball teams around major tournaments, leaving the individuals off the pace and the team lacking cohesion.

From BBC

Related Words

• coherence