Note 16 - Operating Segments - Reportable Operating Segment Financial Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
		Nov. 30, 2019	Aug. 31, 2019	Jun. 01, 2019	Mar. 02, 2019	Dec. 01, 2018		Sep. 01, 2018	[1]	Jun. 02, 2018	[1]	Mar. 03, 2018	[1]	Nov. 30, 2019	Dec. 01, 2018	Dec. 02, 2017
Sales revenue		$ 739,106	$ 725,376	$ 759,583	$ 672,935	$ 768,429	[1]	$ 770,107		$ 789,387		$ 713,079		$ 2,897,000	$ 3,041,002	$ 2,306,043
Sales revenue		(739,106)	$ (725,376)	$ (759,583)	$ (672,935)	(768,429)	[1]	$ (770,107)		$ (789,387)		$ (713,079)		(2,897,000)	(3,041,002)	(2,306,043)
Segment operating income														225,994	237,891	119,527
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization														141,206	145,125	87,315
Assets	[2]	3,985,734				4,176,314								3,985,734	4,176,314
Capital expenditures														63,554	68,263
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	321,200				328,027								321,200	328,027
Capital expenditures														6,654	10,458
Americas Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income														92,195	98,966	84,847
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization														34,570	35,434	22,208
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue														1,022,775	1,051,365	902,777
Sales revenue														(1,022,775)	(1,051,365)	(902,777)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	927,024				1,003,926								927,024	1,003,926
Capital expenditures														25,967	28,983
Americas Adhesives [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue														(17,747)	(18,717)	(15,943)
Sales revenue														17,747	18,717	15,943
EIMEA [Member]
Segment operating income														22,256	29,589	17,173
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization														26,828	28,259	20,269
EIMEA [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue														640,913	697,448	564,439
Sales revenue														(640,913)	(697,448)	(564,439)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	692,225				724,633								692,225	724,633
Capital expenditures														13,110	16,407
EIMEA [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue														(35,005)	(19,765)	(19,153)
Sales revenue														35,005	19,765	19,153
Asia Pacific [Member]
Segment operating income														22,165	17,742	14,910
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization														8,338	8,447	8,163
Asia Pacific [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue														271,585	278,162	264,696
Sales revenue														(271,585)	(278,162)	(264,696)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	236,653				272,923								236,653	272,923
Capital expenditures														5,506	5,005
Asia Pacific [Member] | Intersegment Eliminations [Member]
Sales revenue														(4,675)	(6,952)	(6,498)
Sales revenue														4,675	6,952	6,498
Construction Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income														11,971	30,418	(15,255)
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization														36,339	37,699	19,044
Construction Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue														394,912	452,046	260,466
Sales revenue														(394,912)	(452,046)	(260,466)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	816,821				876,448								816,821	876,448
Capital expenditures														6,421	4,876
Engineering Adhesives [Member]
Segment operating income														77,407	61,176	17,852
Depreciation and amortization
Depreciation and amortization														35,131	35,286	17,631
Engineering Adhesives [Member] | Operating Segments [Member]
Sales revenue														566,815	561,981	313,665
Sales revenue														(566,815)	(561,981)	$ (313,665)
Depreciation and amortization
Assets	[2]	$ 991,811				$ 970,357								991,811	970,357
Capital expenditures														$ 5,896	$ 2,534

[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.