glue

American  

[gloo] / glu /

noun

1. a hard, impure, protein gelatin, obtained by boiling skins, hoofs, and other animal substances in water, that when melted or diluted is a strong adhesive.

2. any of various solutions or preparations of this substance, used as an adhesive.

3. any of various other solutions or preparations that can be used as adhesives.

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verb (used with object)

glued, gluing

1. to join or fasten with glue.

   Synonyms:

   plaster, cement, stick, gum, paste

2. to cover or smear (something) with glue (sometimes followed byup ).

3. to fix or attach firmly with or as if with glue; make adhere closely.

   to glue a model ship together.

glue British  

/ ɡluː /

noun

1. any natural or synthetic adhesive, esp a sticky gelatinous substance prepared by boiling animal products such as bones, skin, and horns

2. any other sticky or adhesive substance

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verb

1. (tr) to join or stick together with or as if with glue

Other Word Forms

• gluelike adjective
• gluer noun
• gluey adjective
• reglue verb (used with object)

Etymology

Origin of glue

1300–50; (noun) Middle English glu, gleu < Old French glu < Latin glūt- (stem of glūs ); cognate with Greek gloiós gum, anything sticky; (v.) Middle English glywen, glewen, derivative of the noun

Example Sentences

Earlier restorers cut it into six sections, adhered it to acidic backing and sealed it with animal glue.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

Later marketed as super glue, it became widely used in homes, manufacturing and medicine.

From Science Daily • Mar. 14, 2026

“My lipstick was glue stick,” she sings in “Lipstuck,” “it sealed my fate, not even able to communicate.”

From Salon • Feb. 19, 2026

Each crystal is hand affixed with E6000 glue.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 18, 2026

I guess some friends are just glitter, and some friends are glue.

From "Shouting at the Rain" by Lynda Mullaly Hunt

Related Words

• cement
• paste
• plaster