any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air and soluble in or forming a viscid mass with water.
any of various similar exudations, as resin.
a preparation of such a substance, as for use in the arts or bookbinding.
mucilage; glue.
Philately. the adhesive by which a postage stamp is affixed.
Informal. a rubber overshoe or boot.
to smear, stiffen, or stick together with gum.
to clog with or as if with some gummy substance.
to exude or form gum.
to become gummy.
to become clogged with a gummy substance.
to masticate (food) with the gums instead of teeth.
to shape or renew the teeth of (a saw), as by grinding.
any of various sticky substances that exude from certain plants, hardening on exposure to air and dissolving or forming viscous masses in water
any of various products, such as adhesives, that are made from such exudates
any sticky substance used as an adhesive; mucilage; glue
short for kauri gum
a gumdrop
to cover or become covered, clogged, or stiffened with or as if with gum
(tr) to stick together or in place with gum
(intr) to emit or form gum
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 kómmi, from Coptic kommi, from Egyptian kema, kemai, kmjt
First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English gom(m)e, Old English gōma “palate, jaws (in plural),” Old Norse gōmr “roof or floor of the mouth,” German Gaumen “palate”
First recorded in 1825–35; euphemism for God
Gum is a sticky substance that oozes out of a tree or another plant, and chewing gum is the stuff you blow bubbles with or stick under your desk. Yuck. Natural gum has many uses, including as a thickener in food products. Chewing gum, however, has only one real use: it's made to be chewed but not swallowed. This kind of gum often has a fruity or minty flavor, and can sometimes be blown into bubbles. When you gum something up, you clog or block it — or you make it sticky. Completely different gums are the soft flesh inside your mouth where your teeth are rooted.
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Gum bases can also be completely natural, in which case there is zero to little petroleum-based product.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 21, 2026
Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic inflammation or infection of the gums and the bone that supports the teeth.
From Science Daily • Oct. 27, 2025
Coel, 36, shot to fame with her Channel 4 comedy Chewing Gum, which was based on her 2012 play of the same name.
From BBC • Aug. 19, 2024
Gum chewers appeared to have a healthier diet, including a lower intake of added sugars compared to those who don't chew gum.
From Salon • Apr. 15, 2024
My eyes flicked to the backpack on the dresser—only for a second, but Gum Baby saw, and an evil smirk crossed her face.
From "Tristan Strong Punches a Hole in the Sky" by Kwame Mbalia
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.
