gum

[ guhm ]

/ gʌm /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR gum 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 1).

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.

Nearby words

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

Idioms

gum up the works. work(def 51).

Origin of gum

1350–1400; Middle English gomme < Old French < Vulgar Latin *gumma, for Latin gummi, cummi < Greek kómmi

Related formsgum·less, adjectivegum·like, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (1 of 5)

gum up

verb (tr, adverb)

to cover, dab, or stiffen with gum

informal to make a mess of; bungle (often in the phrase gum up the works)

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (2 of 5)

GUM

abbreviation for

genitourinary medicine

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (3 of 5)

gum

/ (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

Word Origin for gum

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

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (4 of 5)

gum

/ (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 up (5 of 5)

gum

/ (ɡʌm) /

noun

used in the mild oath by gum!

Word Origin for gum

C19: euphemism for God

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

Word Origin and History for gum up (1 of 3)

gum

n.1

"resin," c.1300, from Old French gome "(medicinal) gum, resin," from Late Latin gumma, from Latin gummi, from Greek kommi "gum," from Egyptian kemai. As a shortened form of chewing gum, first attested 1842 in American English. The gum tree (1670s) was so called for the resin it exudes.

Word Origin and History for gum up (1 of 3)

gum

n.2

"membranes of the mouth," Old English goma "palate, side of the mouth" (single or plural), from a Germanic source represented by Old Norse gomi "palate," Old High German goumo; related to Lithuanian gomurys "palate," and perhaps from PIE *gheu- "to yawn" (cf. Greek khaos; see chaos).

Word Origin and History for gum up (2 of 3)

gum

early 14c., gommen, "treat with (medicinal or aromatic) gums," from gum (n.1). In the transferred or figurative sense of "spoil, ruin" (usually with up), it is first recorded 1901, probably from the notion of machinery becoming clogged. Of infants, etc., "to chew or gnaw (something) with the gums," by 1907, from gum (n.2). Related: Gummed; gumming.

Science definitions for gum up (1 of 2)

gum

[ 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.

Science definitions for gum up (2 of 2)

gum

[ gŭm ]

See gingiva.

Idioms and Phrases with gum up

gum up

Ruin or bungle something, as in The front office has gummed up the sales campaign thoroughly. This idiom is also put as gum up the works, as in John's changes in procedures have gummed up the works in the shipping department. [Slang; c. 1900]

gum

noun

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

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

Verb Phrases

RELATED CONTENT

RELATED WORDS

Nearby words

Idioms

Origin of gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (1 of 5)

gum up

verb (tr, adverb)

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (2 of 5)

GUM

abbreviation for

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (3 of 5)

gum

noun

verb gums, gumming or gummed

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (4 of 5)

gum

noun

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum up (5 of 5)

gum

noun

Word Origin for gum

Word Origin and History for gum up (1 of 3)

gum

Word Origin and History for gum up (1 of 3)

gum

Word Origin and History for gum up (2 of 3)

gum

Science definitions for gum up (1 of 2)

gum

Science definitions for gum up (2 of 2)

gum

Idioms and Phrases with gum up

gum up