sticking
UK: ˈstɪkɪŋ | US: ˈstɪkɪŋ
adj. adhering or clinging to a surface
n. the act of adhering or attaching
v. (present participle of stick) to attach or fix firmly
The word sticking derives from the Old English stician ("to pierce, remain fixed"), which evolved into Middle English stikken ("to adhere"). The root stick retains its core meaning of attachment or fixation, while the suffix -ing forms the present participle or gerund. The concept of "adhering" logically extends from physical piercing (e.g., a spear sticks in the ground) to metaphorical attachment (e.g., ideas stick in memory).
The glue is sticking the paper to the wall.
She noticed a piece of gum sticking to her shoe.
His criticism kept sticking in my mind.
The label isn’t sticking properly to the jar.
Avoid sticking your fingers into the machinery.