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View synonyms for

gum

1

[ guhm ]

noun

  1. any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air and soluble in or forming a viscid mass with water.
  2. any of various similar exudations, as resin.
  3. a preparation of such a substance, as for use in the arts or bookbinding.
  4. mucilage; glue.
  5. Philately. the adhesive by which a postage stamp is affixed. Compare o.g. ( def 2 ).
  6. Informal. a rubber overshoe or boot.


verb (used with object)

gummed, gumming.
  1. to smear, stiffen, or stick together with gum.
  2. to clog with or as if with some gummy substance.

verb (used without object)

gummed, gumming.
  1. to exude or form gum.
  2. to become gummy.
  3. to become clogged with a gummy substance.

verb phrase

  1. Slang. to spoil or ruin.

gum

2

[ guhm ]

noun

  1. Often gums. Also called gingiva. the firm, fleshy tissue covering the alveolar parts of either jaw and enveloping the necks of the teeth.

verb (used with object)

gummed, gumming.
  1. to masticate (food) with the gums instead of teeth.
  2. to shape or renew the teeth of (a saw), as by grinding.

gum

3

[ guhm ]

GUM

1

abbreviation for

  1. genitourinary medicine
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gum

2

/ ɡʌ /

noun

  1. any of various sticky substances that exude from certain plants, hardening on exposure to air and dissolving or forming viscous masses in water
  2. any of various products, such as adhesives, that are made from such exudates
  3. any sticky substance used as an adhesive; mucilage; glue
  4. short for kauri gum
  5. a gumdrop
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to cover or become covered, clogged, or stiffened with or as if with gum
  2. tr to stick together or in place with gum
  3. intr to emit or form gum
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gum

3

/ ɡʌ /

noun

  1. the fleshy tissue that covers the jawbones around the bases of the teeth Technical namegingiva gingival
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gum

4

/ ɡʌ /

noun

  1. used in the mild oath by gum!
“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

gum

1
  1. Any of various sticky substances that are produced by certain plants and trees and dry into brittle solids soluble in water. Gums typically are colloidal mixtures of polysaccharides and mineral salts.

gum

2
  1. See gingiva
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Derived Forms

  • ˈܳ, adjective
  • ˈܳˌ, adjective
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Other Word Forms

  • ܳl adjective
  • ܳl adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gum1

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English gom(m)e, gum(m)e, from Old French gomme, from Vulgar Latin gumma, for Latin gummi, cummi, commi, from Greek ó, from Coptic kommi, from Egyptian kema, kemai, kmjt

Origin of gum2

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English gom(m)e, Old English ō “palate, jaws (in plural),” Old Norse ō “roof or floor of the mouth,” German Gaumen ‼ٱ”

Origin of gum3

First recorded in 1825–35; euphemism for God
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Word History and Origins

Origin of gum1

C14: from Old French gomme, from Latin gummi, from Greek kommi, from Egyptian kemai

Origin of gum2

Old English ō jaw; related to Old Norse ō, Middle High German ū, Lithuanian dzܰī

Origin of gum3

C19: euphemism for God
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. beat one's gums, Slang. to talk excessively or ineffectively.
  2. by gum, (used as a mild oath).
  3. gum up the works. work ( def 51 ).
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Folks, it’s time to walk and chew gum, as the old saying goes.

From

Some academy footballers in England have been left unable to train because of dental problems, according to a new study which found three-quarters of participants are suffering with gum disease.

From

It’s a different side to Carroll, whom NFL fans might better recognize bouncing down the sidelines for the Seattle Seahawks, or hunched over with hands on knees, chomping gum and laser focused on his players.

From

The Independent's three-star review says the show "sticks to the original movie like chewing gum to the underside of a school desk" at first, but changes tack by the second half.

From

“It’s as though someone said, ‘Open your mouth and let me see your gums,’ or ‘Open your blouse and let me see your chest.’

From

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Related Words

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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