adhere — English Dictionary

adhere
Pronunciations (6)
  • /ædˈhɪə/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Received-Pronunciation
  • /ædˈhɪɹ/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Canada
    • General-American
  • /ædˈhɪə/
    Pronunciation notes
    • Australia
  • /ɛdˈhiə/
    Pronunciation notes
    • New-Zealand
  • /ɛdˈhiːə/
    Pronunciation notes
    • New-Zealand
  • ædˈhiɹ
    Pronunciation notes
    • US

Verb

  1. To stick fast or cleave, as a glutinous substance does; to become joined or united.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    Wax adhered to his finger.

    More examples (2)

    The sure test of the presence of the disease is found in the dead body of the larva, which is dark and discoloured; and if a toothpick or pin be thrust into it and then drawn back, the body contents will adhere to it in a stringy mass, to the extent of a half or even an entire inch, as if it were mucous or glue; later the bodies of the larvae dry and appear as black scales in the cell bottoms.

    December 23 2016, Victoria Neff in Roanoke Rapids Daily Herald, The story of mistletoe Mistletoe is an evergreen perennial shrub that has female plants that produce white berries. These white berries are a favorite food of birds who help to reseed the sticky seeds that adhere to tree branches.

  2. To be attached or devoted by personal union, in belief, on principle, etc.

    Usage
    • Figurative
    • Intransitive
    Examples
    More examples (5)

    Upon the whole, if, by the British dominions, you mean territories subject to the Parliament, you adhere to your usual fallacy, and suppose what you are bound to prove.

    King Ferdinand adopted the magnanimous measure recommended by the queen, but he accompanied it with several shrewd conditions, exacting tribute, military services, and safe passages and maintenance for Christian troops throughout the places which should adhere to Boabdil.

    She has conceived the high function of poetry as an interpretation and criticism of life, adhering to the canons of her beloved master, Matthew Arnold, and has proven her worth, and the right to receive and exercise the spiritual influence inherited from that great and austere poet.

    December 13 2016, Secret aid worker, Secret aid worker: NGOs can be efficient, if it involves sacrificing staff But from then on, everything went full speed. A tight timeline was adhered to and it became clear that the organisation’s new direction saw no value in keeping or developing the talents it had previously hired.

    This paper gives an overview of such commentary it has received, minimal as it is, and highlights a number of inaccuracies that appear to adhere to the dictionary with worrying regularity.

  3. To be consistent or coherent; to be in accordance; to agree.

    Usage
    • Figurative
    • Intransitive
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    For the most part, Hefner's female companions all adhered to the same mold: twentysomething, bosomy and blonde. "Well, I guess I know what I like," he once said when asked about his preferences.

  4. To fasten by adhesion.

    Usage
    • Transitive
    Examples
    More examples (1)

    A process in producing playing balls which consists molding a pair of hollow hemispheres from suitable air proof mate rial softening their edges by heat and adhering them to form a unitary hollow sphere inclosing said sphere in a stiffened envelop.

    press on the two layers of paste to adhere them together […].

    Adhere them onto light shades of coordinating card stock and cut each piece of card stock %n larger than the image on four sides.

  5. To affirm a judgment.

    Usage
    • Intransitive

Verb

  1. be compatible or in accordance with

    Examples

    You must adhere to the rules

  2. follow through or carry out a plan without deviation

    Examples

    They adhered to their plan

  3. come or be in close contact with; stick or hold together and resist separation

    Examples

    The dress clings to her body

    The label stuck to the box

    More examples (1)

    The sushi rice grains cohere

  4. be a devoted follower or supporter

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    The residents of this village adhered to Catholicism

    She sticks to her principles

  5. be loyal to

    Broader terms
    Examples

    She stood by her husband in times of trouble

    The friends stuck together through the war

  6. stick to firmly

    Broader terms
    Examples

    Will this wallpaper adhere to the wall?

Word forms
adheresadheringadheredadheredadhære

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