cling

/ˈkliŋ/

Middle English, from Old English clingan; akin to Old High German klunga tangled ball of thread

verb

  1. to hold together

  2. to adhere as if glued firmly

  3. to hold or hold on tightly or tenaciously

The shirt clung to his wet shoulders.

stick adhere cohere cling cleave mean to become closely attached. stick implies attachment by affixing or by being glued together. adhere is often interchangeable with stick but sometimes implies a growing together.

noun

  1. an act or instance of clinging : adherence

  2. clingstone

  3. a sheet of material (such as plastic or vinyl) designed to adhere to a flat surface by static electricity and often printed with an image or message