stickiness

noun

Etymology: Etymology tree English sticky Proto-Germanic *-inōną Proto-Indo-European *-dyé- Proto-Germanic *-atjaną Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Germanic *-þuz Proto-Germanic *-assuz Proto-Germanic *-inassuz Proto-West Germanic *-nassī Old English -nes Middle English -nesse English -ness English stickiness From sticky + -ness.

1. The property of sticking or adhering; adhesion.

   “[…] The flesh [of the mistletoe berry] is sticky, and forms strings and ribbons between my thumb and forefinger. For the mistletoe, this viscous goop – and by the way, viscous comes to English from viscum – is crucial. The stickiness means that, after eating the berries, birds often regurgitate the seeds and then wipe their bills on twigs – leading to the seeds' getting glued to the tree, where they can germinate and begin the cycle anew.”

2. Warmth and humidity, as on a muggy day.
3. Of prices or wages: the tendency to stay the same despite changes in the economy.
4. The presence of unique attributes that make a product indisposable and valuable to its owner.

   “The stickiness of a cellphone might be measured by its ability to tell correct time, locate its user, and allow its user to remain connected regardless of location.”

5. A research measure that captures the extent to which viewers wish to spend more time looking at or reading a print advertisement.

   “The low stickiness rating helped explain why our ad’s brand linkage rating was so low: people were turned off by the blurriness of the main photo.”

6. An overemotional attachment to others; clinging in interpersonal relations; difficulty with ending conversations.