source: monogatari series araragi koyomi GIF - Find & Share on GIPHY

STICK, ADHERE, COHERE, CLING, CLEAVE mean to become closely attached.

STICK implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together.

e.g. couldn't get the label to stick

ADHERE is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

e.g. antibodies adhering to a virus

COHERE suggests a sticking together of parts so that they form a unified mass.

e.g. eggs will make the mixture cohere

CLING implies attachment by hanging on with arms or tendrils.

e.g. clinging to a capsized boat

CLEAVE stresses strength of attachment.

e.g. the wet shirt cleaved to his back

verb no object (adhere to)

1. stick fast to (a surface or substance): (表面や物質に)しっかりとくっつく

〈物が〉(しっかりと) «…に» 粘着, 付着する(stick) «to» (!この意味では〖名詞〗adhesion, 〖形容詞〗adhesive)

e.g. paint won't adhere well to a greasy surface.: 絵の具は油でお割れた表面にはよく付着しないだろう。

2. believe in and follow the practices of: 〜の習慣を信じて従う

〖～ to A〗 A〈規則･法律など〉を固守する; A〈考えなど〉を支持する, 信奉する (!この意味では〖名詞〗adherence, 〖形容詞〗adherent)

e.g. the people adhere to the Muslim religion.: ムスリムの信仰を信奉する人々

represent truthfully and in detail: 誠実で詳細に代表する

e.g. the account adhered firmly to fact.: その説明は真実にをかたく支持した。

late 15th century: from Latin adhaerere, from ad- ‘to’ + haerere ‘to stick’.