cohesion

from WordNet (r) 3.0 (2006)

cohesion
    n 1: the state of cohering or sticking together [syn:
         {coherence}, {coherency}, {cohesion}, {cohesiveness}] [ant:
         {incoherence}, {incoherency}]
    2: (botany) the process in some plants of parts growing together
       that are usually separate (such as petals)
    3: (physics) the intermolecular force that holds together the
       molecules in a solid or liquid

from The Collaborative International Dictionary of English v.0.48

Cohesion \Co*he"sion\, n. [Cf. F. coh['e]sion. See {Cohere}.]
   1. The act or state of sticking together; close union.
      [1913 Webster]

   2. (Physics) That from of attraction by which the particles
      of a body are united throughout the mass, whether like or
      unlike; -- distinguished from adhesion, which unites
      bodies by their adjacent surfaces.
      [1913 Webster]

            Solids and fluids differ in the degree of cohesion,
            which, being increased, turns a fluid into a solid.
                                                  --Arbuthnot.
      [1913 Webster]

   3. Logical agreement and dependence; as, the cohesion of
      ideas. --Locke.
      [1913 Webster]

from The Free On-line Dictionary of Computing (8 July 2008)

COHESION

   <programming> {DEC}'s {CASE} environment.

   [Details?].

   (1995-01-04)