Link Centre Dictionary

sticky

UK/ˈstɪki/ US/ˈstɪki/ fairly common informal slang

adjective

1.

having the properties of glue

2.

moist as with undried perspiration and with clothing sticking to the body

  • “felt sticky and chilly at the same time”
Similar
3.

hot or warm and humid

  • “muggy weather”
  • “the steamy tropics”
  • “sticky weather”
Synonyms
Similar
4.

hard to deal with; especially causing pain or embarrassment

  • “awkward (or embarrassing or difficult) moments in the discussion”
  • “an awkward pause followed his remark”
  • “a sticky question”
  • “in the unenviable position of resorting to an act he had planned to save for the climax of the campaign”

Origin

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

Phrases

  • come to a sticky end
  • fermented sticky rice
  • meet a sticky end
  • sticky bead argument
  • sticky beak
  • sticky bit
  • sticky-back plastic
  • sticky-backed plastic

Related words

WordNet 2.1 (Princeton University). Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). CMU Pronouncing Dictionary. WordNet 2.1 Copyright Princeton University. All rights reserved. Wiktionary content is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike Licence.