Cohesive

Part of speech: adjective

Pronunciation: /kəʊˈhiː.sɪv/

Definitions

1. Unified and forming a whole where all parts stick together and work well as an integrated unit
2. Having the property of unity that enables parts to adhere closely, allowing them to function effectively as a single, well-integrated entity
3. Characterized by a strong interconnectedness that ensures components remain together and operate harmoniously as one

Etymology: "Cohesive" is built from the Latin verb "cohaerere," meaning "to stick together," formed from "co-" ("together") and "haerere" ("to stick, cling"). The Latin past participle "cohaesus" gave English the stem "cohes-," to which the suffix "-ive," meaning "tending to" or "having the quality of," was attached. The verb "cohere" arrived in English earlier and kept the literal sense of physical clinging: a substance whose particles hold to one another. The adjective followed the same path, so it began as a description of matter before it described people, arguments or plans. A cohesive policy is one whose parts stick together logically, and a cohesive team is one whose members pull in the same direction.

Synonyms: unified, connected, coherent

Antonyms: disjointed, fragmented