Note 15 - Operating Segments - Reportable Operating Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
		Dec. 01, 2018		Sep. 01, 2018	[1]	Jun. 02, 2018	[1]	Mar. 03, 2018	[1]	Dec. 02, 2017		Sep. 02, 2017	[1]	Jun. 03, 2017	[1]	Mar. 04, 2017	[1]	Dec. 01, 2018	Dec. 02, 2017	Dec. 03, 2016
Sales revenue		$ 768,429	[1]	$ 770,107		$ 789,387		$ 713,079		$ 678,200	[1]	$ 562,869		$ 561,651		$ 503,323		$ 3,041,002	$ 2,306,043	$ 2,094,605
Sales revenue		(768,429)	[1]	$ (770,107)		$ (789,387)		$ (713,079)		(678,200)	[1]	$ (562,869)		$ (561,651)		$ (503,323)		(3,041,002)	(2,306,043)	(2,094,605)
Segment operating income																		254,762	128,040	198,184
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization																		145,125	87,315	77,685
Assets	[2]	4,175,271								4,373,243								4,175,271	4,373,243
Capital expenditures																		68,263	54,934	63,310
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	328,047								310,828								328,047	310,828
Capital expenditures																		10,458	8,039
Americas Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income																		115,363	91,198	121,998
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization																		39,558	22,999	18,979
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue																		1,099,918	907,765	806,062
Sales revenue																		(1,099,918)	(907,765)	(806,062)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	1,092,622								1,188,027								1,092,622	1,188,027
Capital expenditures																		28,983	19,022
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue																		(18,717)	(15,943)	(16,064)
Sales revenue																		18,717	15,943	16,064
EIMEA [Member]
Segment operating income																		40,060	18,821	40,121
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization																		32,184	21,071	21,441
EIMEA [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue																		738,553	568,658	545,135
Sales revenue																		(738,553)	(568,658)	(545,135)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	782,831								837,313								782,831	837,313
Capital expenditures																		16,407	16,110
EIMEA [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue																		(19,765)	(19,153)	(19,165)
Sales revenue																		19,765	19,153	19,165
Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment operating income																		17,995	14,826	15,410
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization																		8,483	8,162	7,484
Asia Pacific [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue																		278,079	264,692	241,827
Sales revenue																		(278,079)	(264,692)	(241,827)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	272,735								289,191								272,735	289,191
Capital expenditures																		5,005	4,910
Asia Pacific [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue																		(6,952)	(6,498)	(4,716)
Sales revenue																		6,952	6,498	4,716
Construction Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income																		32,917	(12,975)	3,265
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization																		37,885	18,656	14,977
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue																		446,101	260,330	256,346
Sales revenue																		(446,101)	(260,330)	(256,346)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets		843,847								867,574								843,847	867,574
Capital expenditures																		4,876	4,369
Engineering Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income																		48,427	16,170	17,390
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization																		27,015	16,427	14,804
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue																		478,351	304,598	245,235
Sales revenue																		(478,351)	(304,598)	$ (245,235)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	$ 855,189								$ 880,310								855,189	880,310
Capital expenditures																		$ 2,534	$ 2,484

[1] Amounts have been adjusted retrospectively for the change in accounting principle as discussed in Note 1.

[2] Segment assets include primarily inventory, accounts receivable, property, plant and equipment and other miscellaneous assets. Corporate assets include primarily corporate property, plant and equipment, deferred tax assets, certain investments and other assets.