Cohesion

Part of speech: noun

Pronunciation: /kəʊˈhiː.ʒən/

Definitions

1. The quality of forming a unified whole where different elements or members are closely linked in both physical properties and functional cooperation
2. The characteristic of various components adhering together to create a single entity while maintaining their distinct roles and properties
3. The state of elements working closely as a single unit ; the intermolecular attraction that keeps molecules bonded

Etymology: Cohesion is a Latin compound at heart: "con-" ("together") joined to "haerere" ("to stick"), giving "cohaerere," to hold together. The Latin noun "cohaesio" grew from that verb, and the word reached English in the late 17th century by way of French "cohésion." Its earliest English uses were concrete and physical, describing how the particles of a solid or liquid hold to one another. Over time the sense widened to cover anything whose parts bind together, such as a team, a community, or a body of argument. The word's core idea stayed the same throughout: parts that refuse to come apart.

Synonyms: unity, bonding, togetherness, connection, solidarity

Antonyms: disunity, disconnection, fragmentation, division, separation