1
a
: any of various strong adhesive substances
especially
: a hard protein chiefly gelatinous substance that absorbs water to form a viscous solution with strong adhesive properties and that is obtained by cooking down collagenous materials (such as hides or bones)
b
: a solution of glue used for sticking things together
2
: something that binds together
enough social glue … to satisfy the human desire for community—
E. D. Hirsch, Jr.
E. D. Hirsch, Jr.
glued; gluing also glueing
1
: to cause to stick tightly with or as if with glue
gluing the parts together
used that war to glue together a frail story—Gloria Emerson
Gloria Emerson2
: to cause to remain continuously or to be fixed steadily
—usually used with to
the spectators were glued to their seats
all eyes glued to the TV screen
Examples of glue in a Sentence
Noun
The hardware store offers several different glues.
used glue to stick the photo in the album
Verb
I glued the pieces of the cup back together.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
Bob was the glue that held us together and kept us grounded.
—Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025
Surgeons then shape the tooth into a rectangle, drill a hole into it and glue a plastic optical lens inside the hole.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glue
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Noun
To avoid bottles that are glued shut, clean the bottle top and cap of excess glue.
—Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2025
Bob was the glue that held us together and kept us grounded.
—Meredith Wilshere, People.com, 3 Apr. 2025
Verb
Rather than trying to glue the broken pieces back together (which Robbins says can lead to the china degrading and moisture slipping through the glaze), turn to alternative solutions.
—Hallie Milstein, Southern Living, 27 Mar. 2025
Surgeons then shape the tooth into a rectangle, drill a hole into it and glue a plastic optical lens inside the hole.
—Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 10 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for glue
Cite this Entry
“Glue.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/glue. Accessed 20 Apr. 2025.
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