glue
UK[ɡluː]US[ɡluː]
n
A sticky substance used for joining things together.
v
To join things together using glue.
Etymology
The story of 'glue' begins with the ancient Proto-Indo-European root glei-, which carried the fundamental meaning "to stick, to smear." This root gave rise to a family of words across various languages related to stickiness, including Latin 'gluten' (meaning "glue") and Greek 'gloios' (meaning "sticky matter"). Entering English via Old French 'glu', the term initially referred specifically to birdlime, a sticky substance spread on twigs to trap birds. Over time, the word generalized to encompass any adhesive substance, perfectly preserving the core "sticking" logic of its ancient root in its modern, abstract application.
Analysis
The word 'glue' is a simplex form. It originates from the Old French 'glu', meaning "birdlime, sticky substance," which itself came from the Late Latin 'glus' (stem 'glut-'), meaning "glue." The ultimate origin is the Proto-Indo-European root glei-, meaning "to stick, to smear."
Examples
She used a strong glue to repair the broken vase.
The children glued the pieces of paper onto the poster.
His eyes were glued to the screen during the exciting movie.