sticky

B1 Topic:Describing Qualities

US /ˈstɪki/ See IPA manual

Freq #7238

Meanings

1

adj
Tending to stick to things; covered with something that sticks.

The tape was really sticky and stayed on the wall for years.
2

adj
Of weather: hot and humid, making you feel damp and uncomfortable.

The hot, sticky August weather made it hard to sleep.
3

adj
Difficult or awkward to deal with.

This is a sticky situation and we need to handle it carefully.
4

adj
Slow to change; staying at the same level.

Wages are often sticky and do not fall quickly during a downturn.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 adj · tending to stick to things;... glueyglutinousgummyviscous

2 adj · of weather: hot and humid,... close

More adhesive muggy sultry tenacious

Word family

Forms stickierstickieststickilystickiness

Derived forms nonstickystickilystickinesssticky-beaksticky-fingersticky-fingeredsticky-ickysticky-notesticky-outsticky-outysticky-sweetsticky-tape

Related forms tacky

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

sticky end
an end of double-stranded DNA where one strand extends beyond the other

Adjective + noun

Etymology

So called because they sold adhesive lilies to commemorate the Easter Rising.

Topics

Describing Qualities

External links

# sticky

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B1
**Part of speech:** adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈstɪki/
**Frequency rank:** 7238

## Meanings
1. Tending to stick to things; covered with something that sticks.
2. Of weather: hot and humid, making you feel damp and uncomfortable.
3. Difficult or awkward to deal with.
4. Slow to change; staying at the same level.

## Examples
- The tape was really sticky and stayed on the wall for years.
- The hot, sticky August weather made it hard to sleep.
- This is a sticky situation and we need to handle it carefully.
- Wages are often sticky and do not fall quickly during a downturn.

## Synonyms
- adhesive
- glutinous
- muggy
- sultry
- tenacious

## Derived Forms
- nonsticky
- stickily
- stickiness
- sticky-beak
- sticky-finger
- sticky-fingered
- sticky-icky
- sticky-note
- sticky-out
- sticky-outy
- sticky-sweet
- sticky-tape

## Related Forms
- tacky

## Etymology
So called because they sold adhesive lilies to commemorate the Easter Rising.

## Topics
- Describing Qualities

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