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cohesion

 [koh-hee-zhuhn]   Origin

co·he·sion

   [koh-hee-zhuhn]
noun
1.
the act or state of cohering, uniting, or sticking together.
2.
Physics. the molecular force between particles within a body or substance that acts to unite them. Compare adhesion (def. 4).
3.
Botany. the congenital union of one part with another.
4.
Linguistics. the property of unity in a written text or a segment of spoken discourse that stems from links among its surface elements, as when words in one sentence are repeated in another, and especially from the fact that some words or phrases depend for their interpretation upon material in preceding or following text, as in the sequence Be assured of this. Most people do not want to fight. However, they will do so when provoked, where this refers to the two sentences that follow, they refers back to most people, do so substitutes for the preceding verb fight, and however relates the clause that follows to the preceding sentence. Compare coherence (def. 5).
Origin:
1670–80; variant of cohaesion < Latin cohaes- (variant stem of cohaerēre to cohere) + -iōn- -ion

Related forms
co·he·sion·less, adjective
in·ter·co·he·sion, noun
non·co·he·sion, noun
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2012.
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Cohesion is always a great word to know.
So is quaternary structure. Does it mean:
basic structural relationship of the components of a polypeptide
electrostatic bond between two ions formed through the transfer of one or more electrons
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Collins
World English Dictionary
cohesion (kəʊˈhiːʒən)
 
—n
1.  the act or state of cohering; tendency to unite
2.  physics the force that holds together the atoms or molecules in a solid or liquid, as distinguished from adhesion
3.  botany the fusion in some plants of flower parts, such as petals, that are usually separate
 
[C17: from Latin cohaesus stuck together, past participle of cohaerēre to cohere]

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 10th Edition
2009 © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009
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Etymonline
Word Origin & History

cohesion
1670s, from L. cohæsus, pp. of cohærere "to stick together" (see coherent). Related: Cohesive (c.1730), cohesively (1818), cohesiveness (c.1730).
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper
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American Heritage
Medical Dictionary

cohesion co·he·sion (kō-hē'zhən)
n.
The intermolecular attraction that holds molecules and masses together.

The American Heritage® Stedman's Medical Dictionary
Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company.
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American Heritage
Science Dictionary
cohesion   (kō-hē'zhən)  Pronunciation Key 
The force of attraction that holds molecules of a given substance together. It is strongest in solids, less strong in liquids, and least strong in gases. Cohesion of molecules causes drops to form in liquids (as when liquid mercury is poured on a piece of glass), and causes condensing water vapor to form the droplets that make clouds. Compare adhesion.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary
Copyright © 2002. Published by Houghton Mifflin. All rights reserved.
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American Heritage
Cultural Dictionary

cohesion definition


The molecular (see molecule) attraction or joining of the surfaces of two pieces of the same substance. (Compare adhesion.)

The American Heritage® New Dictionary of Cultural Literacy, Third Edition
Copyright © 2005 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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FOLDOC
Computing Dictionary

COHESION definition

programming
DEC's CASE environment.
[Details?].
(1995-01-04)

The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing, © Denis Howe 2010 http://foldoc.org
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Encyclopedia Britannica
Encyclopedia

cohesion

in physics, the intermolecular attractive force acting between two adjacent portions of a substance, particularly of a solid or liquid. It is this force that holds a piece of matter together. Intermolecular forces act also between two dissimilar substances in contact, a phenomenon called adhesion. These forces originate principally because of coulomb (electrical) forces. When two molecules are close together, they are repelled; when farther apart, they are attracted; and when they are at an intermediate distance, their potential energy is at a minimum, requiring the expenditure of work to either approximate or separate them. Thus, work is required to pull apart two objects in intimate contact, whether they be of the same or different material.

Learn more about cohesion with a free trial on Britannica.com.

Encyclopedia Britannica, 2008. Encyclopedia Britannica Online.
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