Adhesive vs. Nonadhesive — What's the Difference?

Adhesive, also known as glue, cement, mucilage, or paste, is any non-metallic substance applied to one or both surfaces of two separate items that binds them together and resists their separation.The use of adhesives offers certain advantages over other binding techniques such as sewing, mechanical fastenings, or welding. These include the ability to bind different materials together, the more efficient distribution of stress across a joint, the cost-effectiveness of an easily mechanized process, and greater flexibility in design.

Not adhesive

Tending to adhere; sticky.

Not tending to adhere

Gummed so as to adhere.

Tending to persist; difficult if not impossible to shake off

A substance, such as paste or cement, that provides or promotes adhesion.

Sticky; tenacious, as glutinous substances

Apt or tending to adhere; clinging

A substance, such as glue, that provides or promotes adhesion

Sticky; tenacious, as glutinous substances.

Apt or tending to adhere; clinging.

A substance that unites or bonds surfaces together

Tending to adhere