Lepivý

Lepivý is an adjective used in Czech and Slovak to describe substances or surfaces that tend to adhere to other materials. In English, it is commonly translated as sticky, tacky, or adhesive. The term can refer to physical properties such as high adhesiveness or a tendency to cling, as in a lepivý film (sticky film) or lepivá hmota (adhesive substance). It can also be used metaphorically to describe something that is hard to shake off or a situation that clings to people or objects.

Etymology and form: Lepivý is derived from the verb lepit, meaning to glue or paste, with a productive adjective suffix -ivý. In Czech, the word agrees with the gender and number of the noun: masculine lepivý, feminine lepivá, neuter lepivé. In Slovak, the forms are lepivý, lepivá, lepivé. Related nouns include lepivost (adhesiveness) and lepení (gluing or pasting), which describe the process or quality linked to adhesiveness.

Usage: In scientific or technical contexts, lepivý describes materials with adhesive properties or surfaces that promote sticking. In everyday language, it can describe sticky residues on hands, tools, or surfaces, as well as food textures or weather conditions that leave surfaces sticky. The term is commonly complemented by more specific terms such as lepidlo (glue) or lepkavý, depending on dialect and nuance.

See also: lepení, lepidlo.