adhere

Adhere is a verb with two broad uses. It can mean to stick or cling to a surface or object, as when tape adheres to wood. It can also mean to remain loyal, committed, or consistent with a plan, belief, or code of conduct, as when a person adheres to a set of rules. The phrase adhere to is common in both senses.

Etymology and related terms: from Latin adhaerere, meaning “to cling to.” Related forms include adhesion (the act or state of sticking), adherent (a person or thing that adheres), and adhesive (a substance that causes sticking). Adherence can denote faithful attachment or compliance.

Usage and contexts: In everyday language, adhere describes both physical attachment and commitment. In science and industry, adhesion refers to the attractive force between different materials, while adhesives are substances that promote sticking. In biology, adherent cells are those that attach to a substrate. In law and policy, to adhere to a rule means to follow it.

See also: adhesion, adherent, adhesive, adherence.