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Question 1 of 7
Which sentence is correct?

Idioms about gum

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

Origin of gum

1
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

Other definitions 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

2
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”

Other definitions for gum (3 of 3)

gum3
[ guhm ]
/ gʌm /

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

Origin of gum

3
First recorded in 1825–35; euphemism for God
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gum (1 of 4)

gum1
/ (ɡʌm) /

noun
verb gums, gumming or gummed
See also gum up

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

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.
The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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