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glue
Why does glue stick?
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glue
glue Gluing a dovetail joint before assembly.

glue

adhesive
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Article History

glue, gelatin-like adhesive substance extracted from animal tissue, particularly hides and bones, or from fish, casein (milk solids), or vegetables. Glue was used as early as 3000 bce in wooden furniture construction in Egypt.

Why does glue stick?
Why does glue stick?Overview of how glue and other adhesives work.
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Synthetic resin adhesives such as the epoxies are replacing glue for many uses, but glue is still widely used as an adhesive in woodworking, in the manufacture of such abrasives as sandpaper, and as a colloid in industrial processes—e.g., the recovery of solid particles suspended in a liquid.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn.