Reading Theme:

Language:

Font Size:

📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Sticky Meaning: Adhesive & Humid Weather Uses (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：adhesive (sticky)

sticky 🔊

/ˈstɪki/

adj.

Describes something that is like glue or honey, able to attach to other things and hard to separate.

adhesive 🔊

➕

/ədˈhiːsɪv/

adj.

Describes a substance or surface that has the quality of sticking to other things, like glue or honey.

📁 Category：Objects & Materials 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

Derived from Old English 'sticca' (stick) + suffix '-y', meaning 'having the property of a stick, adhesive'.

💡 Mnemonic

Imagine a sticky note that clings to everything you touch—that's 'sticky' in both adhesive and uncomfortable weather.

📖 Example

Be careful with that honey, it's very sticky and hard to wash off your fingers. 🔊 Be careful with that honey, it's very sticky and hard to wash off your fingers.

🔗 Collocations

sticky tape – Adhesive tape that sticks to surfaces

sticky fingers – Fingers coated with something adhesive; also a term for a thief

sticky situation – A difficult or awkward circumstance

🔄 Synonyms

tacky (adj.) – Slightly sticky to the touch, often used for paint or glue

adhesive (adj.) – Having the property of sticking to a surface

gluey (adj.) – Resembling glue in consistency; very sticky

🚫 Antonyms

non-sticky (adj.) – Not having adhesive properties

slippery (adj.) – Having a smooth surface that causes sliding, not sticky

smooth (adj.) – Having an even surface with no stickiness

🌱 Derivatives

stickiness (n.) – The quality or state of being sticky

stickily (adv.) – In a sticky manner

📖 Cultural Story

From Old English 'stician' meaning 'to pierce or remain fixed'. The sense of 'adhesive' emerged in the 14th century, later extended to humid weather in the 19th century.

Meaning 2：humid and muggy (sticky)

sticky 🔊

/ˈstɪki/

adj.

Describes hot and humid weather that makes you feel sweaty and uncomfortable.

Sticky humid weather person wiping sweat on park bench summer

humid and muggy 🔊

➕

/ˈhjuːmɪd ænd ˈmʌɡi/

adj.

Describes weather that is hot and humid, causing a feeling of dampness and discomfort, often making clothes cling to the skin.

📁 Category：Natural Geography 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I don't like summer in this city; the air is always so sticky that my clothes cling to my skin. 🔊 I don't like summer in this city; the air is always so sticky that my clothes cling to my skin.

🔗 Collocations

sticky weather – Hot and humid atmospheric conditions

sticky heat – Uncomfortable warmth combined with high humidity

sticky air – Air that feels moist and heavy to breathe

🔄 Synonyms

humid (adj.) – Containing a high amount of water vapor in the air

muggy (adj.) – Warm and damp, with oppressive humidity

sultry (adj.) – Hot and humid, often with a lack of breeze

🚫 Antonyms

dry (adj.) – Having little or no moisture in the air

arid (adj.) – Very dry, especially of a climate or region

fresh (adj.) – Cool and pleasantly dry, especially of air

🌱 Derivatives

stickiness (n.) – The state of being sticky, also used for humid weather