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. chewing gum.

5. mucilage; glue.

6. rubber.

7. gum tree.

8. Philately.,  the adhesive by which a postage stamp is affixed.

9. 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. gum up,  to spoil or ruin.

gum

²

[guhm]

noun

1. Also called gingiva. Often gums 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

/ ɡʌm /

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. See chewing gum bubble gum gumtree

6. a gumdrop

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

GUM

²

abbreviation

1. genitourinary medicine

gum

³

/ ɡʌm /

noun

1. Technical name: gingiva. the fleshy tissue that covers the jawbones around the bases of the teeth

gum

⁴

/ ɡʌm /

noun

1. used in the mild oath by gum!

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

Other Word Forms

• gumless adjective
• gumlike adjective

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 kómmi, from Coptic kommi, from Egyptian kema, kemai, kmjt

Origin of gum²

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”

Origin of gum³

First recorded in 1825–35; euphemism for God

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 gōma jaw; related to Old Norse gōmr, Middle High German gūme, Lithuanian gomurīs

Origin of gum³

C19: euphemism for _God

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. gum up the works. work.

2. beat one's gums, to talk excessively or ineffectively.

3. by gum, (used as a mild oath).

Example Sentences

The study found an association between gum disease and these brain changes, though it does not prove that one causes the other.

Read more on Science Daily

Illegal teeth-whitening treatments that can burn gums and destroy teeth are being sold in car parks and on social media, a BBC investigation has found.

Read more on BBC

Gum disease, also known as periodontal disease, is a chronic inflammation or infection of the gums and the bone that supports the teeth.

Read more on Science Daily

That gummed up financing and logistics for Arctic LNG 2 and stopped South Korean shipbuilders from delivering to the project.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

In a memo to employees, Fiddelke said he was trying to clear up “complexity” that gummed up decision-making and made it harder to deliver on ideas, according to the Journal.

Read more on MarketWatch

Related Words

• paste 
• wax