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sticky - 4 dictionary results

stick⋅y

  [stik-ee] adjective, stick⋅i⋅er, stick⋅i⋅est, noun, plural stick⋅ies.
Use sticky in a Sentence
–adjective
1. having the property of adhering, as glue; adhesive.
2. covered with adhesive or viscid matter: sticky hands.
3. (of the weather or climate) hot and humid: It was an unbearably sticky day.
4. requiring careful treatment; awkwardly difficult: a rather sticky diplomatic problem; Breaking the news is going to be sticky.
5. Informal. unpleasant; unfortunate; nasty: The villain of the story meets a sticky end.
–noun
6. one of a number of small sheets of paper on a pad, each having an adhesive backing that allows it to be positioned and repositioned on smooth surfaces.
Origin:
1720–30; 1910–15 for def. 4; stick 2 + -y 1

Related forms:
stick⋅i⋅ly, adverb
stick⋅i⋅ness, noun

Synonyms:
3. muggy, sultry, damp, steamy.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
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stick·y   (stĭk'ē)   
adj.   stick·i·er, stick·i·est
  1. Having the property of adhering or sticking to a surface; adhesive.
  2. Covered with an adhesive agent.
  3. Warm and humid; muggy: a sticky day.
  4. Informal Painful or difficult: a sticky situation.
  5. Economics Tending to remain the same despite changes in the economy. Used of prices or wages.
stick'i·ly adv., stick'i·ness n.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Sticky

Stick"y\, a. [Compar. Stickier; superl. Stickiest.] Having the quality of sticking to a surface; adhesive; gluey; viscous; viscid; glutinous; tenacious.

Herbs which last longest are those of strong smell, and with a sticky stalk. --Bacon.
Webster's Revised Unabridged Dictionary, © 1996, 1998 MICRA, Inc.
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Language Translation for : sticky
Italian: autoadesivo; gommoso,
German: klebrig,
Japanese: ねばねばする
More Translations »

sticky  (adj.)
1727, "adhesive," from stick (v.). An O.E. word for this was clibbor.First recorded 1864 in the sense of "sentimental;" 1915 with the meaning "difficult." Of weather, "hot and humid," from 1895. Sticky wicket is 1952, from British slang, in reference to cricket.
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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