gum

[ guhm ]

/ gʌm /

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See synonyms for: gum / gummed / gumming on Thesaurus.com

noun

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.

chewing gum.

mucilage; glue.

rubber¹ (def. 1).

gum tree.

Philately. the adhesive by which a postage stamp is affixed.Compare o.g. (def. 2).

Informal. a rubber overshoe or boot.

verb (used with object), gummed, gum·ming.

to smear, stiffen, or stick together with gum.

to clog with or as if with some gummy substance.

verb (used without object), gummed, gum·ming.

to exude or form gum.

to become gummy.

to become clogged with a gummy substance.

Verb Phrases

gum up, Slang. to spoil or ruin.

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Idioms for gum

gum up the works. work (def. 51).

Origin of 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

OTHER WORDS FROM gum

gumless, adjectivegumlike, adjective

Words nearby gum

gully, gullywasher, gulosity, gulp, gulper eel, gum, gum accroides, gum ammoniac, gum arabic, gumball, gum band

Definition for gum (2 of 3)

gum²

[ guhm ]

/ gʌm /

noun

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, gum·ming.

to masticate (food) with the gums instead of teeth.

to shape or renew the teeth of (a saw), as by grinding.

Origin of gum

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”

Definition for gum (3 of 3)

gum³

[ guhm ]

/ gʌm /

Idioms

by gum, (used as a mild oath).

Origin of gum

First recorded in 1825–35; euphemism for God

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use gum in a sentence

When a patient’s gums are sore and inflamed — for example, after dental work or losing a tooth — allergens may have direct access to the bloodstream, which increases the risk of systemic allergic reactions, says allergist Sakina Bajowala.
An experimental toothpaste aims to treat peanut allergy|Esther Landhuis|March 10, 2021|Science News
In addition to cleaning every surface of your teeth, MYST cleans the gum line also.
A New Way To Brush Your Teeth Has Arrived! It’s Quick, Easy and Super Effective!|LGBTQ-Editor|February 23, 2021|No Straight News
There is nothing like the feeling of leaving the dentist after a dental grade cleaning of your teeth and gums!
A New Way To Brush Your Teeth Has Arrived! It’s Quick, Easy and Super Effective!|LGBTQ-Editor|February 23, 2021|No Straight News
Every time he sees me, or anybody he likes, he lifts the upper gums and displays the whole row of teeth.
I have the pandemic to thank for this precious time with my old hound, Teddy|Diana Nyad|December 21, 2020|Washington Post

Waterpik’s top-of-the-line unit features 10 different pressure settings, as well as a dual-step “pulse modulation” mode that flosses between teeth and then massages gums.
Water flossers that get between your teeth|PopSci Commerce Team|August 27, 2020|Popular Science
White King Soap sponsored the show on the West Coast, and Beech-Nut Gum in the East.
The Flying Sorcery of Dr. Strange: Benedict Cumberbatch Is Marvel's Most Bizarre Magician|Rich Goldstein|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He packed a large pinch of the snuff against his bottom gum.
Short Stories from The Daily Beast: Four Hundred Grand|Elliot Ackerman|July 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He grabs the steering wheel tighter and stops chewing his bubble gum.
He Bullies Kids and Calls It News|Brandy Zadrozny|June 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Tessie rose, unrolled her scented handkerchief, and taking a bit of gum from a knot in the hem, placed it in her mouth.
Read ‘The King in Yellow,’ the ‘True Detective’ Reference That’s the Key to the Show|Robert W. Chambers|February 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He parked near us and sat watching and chewing gum or something.
‘The Land of the Permanent Wave’ Is Bud Shrake’s Classic Take on ‘60s Texas|Edwin Shrake|February 2, 2014|DAILY BEAST
We were on Blue Gum Ridge hunting squirrels, and we got to talking over one thing and another.
The Soldier of the Valley|Nelson Lloyd
Then rolling chewing-gum from one corner of his mouth into the other, he snapped off the electric light and walked from the room.
Dope|Sax Rohmer
Gum is excreted from various plants as a thick fluid, which dries up into transparent masses.
Elements of Agricultural Chemistry|Thomas Anderson
Mrs. Gum dusted a large old-fashioned oak chair with her apron; but he perched himself on one of its elbows.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood
He said well that he was always thirsty, though Mrs. Gum's expression was the better one.
Elster's Folly|Mrs. Henry Wood

British Dictionary definitions for gum (1 of 4)

gum¹

/ (ɡʌm) /

noun

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

NZ short for kauri gum

See chewing gum, bubble gum, gumtree

mainly British a gumdrop

verb gums, gumming or gummed

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

Derived forms of gum

gumless, adjectivegumlike, adjective

Word Origin for gum

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

British Dictionary definitions for gum (2 of 4)

gum²

/ (ɡʌm) /

noun

the fleshy tissue that covers the jawbones around the bases of the teethTechnical name: gingiva Related adjective: gingival

Word Origin for gum

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

British Dictionary definitions for gum (3 of 4)

gum³

/ (ɡʌm) /

noun

used in the mild oath by gum!

Word Origin for gum

C19: euphemism for God

British Dictionary definitions for gum (4 of 4)

GUM

abbreviation for

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

Medical definitions for gum (1 of 2)

gum 1¹

[ gŭm ]

n.

Any of various viscous substances that are exuded by certain plants and trees and dry into water-soluble, noncrystalline, brittle solids.

A similar plant exudate, such as a resin.

Any of various adhesives made from such exudates or other sticky substance.

Medical definitions for gum (2 of 2)

gum 2²

[ gŭm ]

n.

The firm connective tissue covered by mucous membrane that envelops the alveolar arches of the jaw and surrounds the bases of the teeth.gingiva

v.

To chew food with toothless gums.

Scientific definitions for gum (1 of 2)

gum¹

[ gŭm ]

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.

Scientific definitions for gum (2 of 2)

gum²

[ gŭm ]

See gingiva.

gum

noun

verb (used with object), gummed, gum·ming.

verb (used without object), gummed, gum·ming.

Verb Phrases

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Idioms for gum

Origin of gum

OTHER WORDS FROM gum

Words nearby gum

Definition for gum (2 of 3)

noun

verb (used with object), gummed, gum·ming.

Origin of gum

Definition for gum (3 of 3)

Idioms

Origin of gum

Words related to gum

How to use gum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gum (1 of 4)

noun

verb gums, gumming or gummed

Derived forms of gum

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum (2 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum (3 of 4)

noun

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum (4 of 4)

abbreviation for

Medical definitions for gum (1 of 2)

n.

Medical definitions for gum (2 of 2)

n.

v.

Scientific definitions for gum (1 of 2)

Scientific definitions for gum (2 of 2)