Pastes

Part of speech: noun, verb

Pronunciation: /peɪsts/

Definitions

1. A sticky blend used to affix items or materials together comes in various forms suitable for different applications A viscous substance commonly employed in artistic or practical tasks adheres surfaces firmly An adhesive mixture with a dense texture helps unite objects in various crafting and repair activities
2. A thick adhesive used for bonding materials can be found in many forms for diverse projects
3. A thick glue-like material designed to join surfaces or objects together firmly

Etymology: Ancient Greek "pastá" meant a salted or seasoned mixture, the kind of barley porridge or dough that was kneaded and shaped. The Greek root "pássō" meant "to sprinkle" or "to knead," and the sense of pressing ingredients together into a soft mass stayed with the word as it moved through Late Latin "pasta" and Old French "paste," which became English "paste" in the Middle English period. Most English uses of the word now describe a smooth, moist mass, such as toothpaste or wallpaper paste. The plural "pastes" simply refers to several such mixtures, often ones made for specific jobs. Medieval English also used "pasten" as a verb meaning to make a paste or to bake in a pastry, and the verb was formed from the noun.

Synonyms: adhesives, glues, cements, mucilages, gums

Antonyms: solids, powders, loose materials