noun

cohesion

koh-HEE-zhun/kəʊˈhiːʒn/

The quality of parts holding together as a whole.

The water's cohesion holds it together as droplets merge on the leaf.

A cluster of water droplets coalesces into one larger rounded drop on a leaf, sticking-together cohesion visible, no labels.

Etymology

coLatintogether

+hesLatinto stick, cling

+ionLatinact or state

The pieces express the act or state of sticking together. That physical image also describes unity: separate members hold together as one whole.

In context

Reynard Lowell11:55

… the glue that ties everything together. Cohesion you can actually feel. One of the easiest ways to make a room feel well-designed is through quiet repetition.

The 3 Layers That Make Any Living Room Look HIGH-END

More examples

The dough lacks cohesion and crumbles when I roll it.
A recurring theme gives the essay cohesion.
Regular neighborhood gatherings help build social cohesion.

Forms

cohere verb — To hold together as a whole.

cohesive adjective — Holding together as a unified whole.

Similar words

unity: Emphasizes being one whole rather than holding together.
coherence: Emphasizes logical connections, especially among ideas or statements.