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 about 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

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

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

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

Or maybe we just need one of those bogus “alien invasions” that Paul Krugman is always flapping his gums about.
This One Picture of Telly Savalas Refutes All Fears That Progress Has Ended|Nick Gillespie|October 30, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Lactobacillus reuteri LR-1 or LR-2 promote oral health by binding to teeth and gums, preventing plaque formation in the mouth.
How to Choose the Right Probiotic for You|DailyBurn|May 16, 2014|DAILY BEAST
After you spit out the oil, rub the remaining oil into your gums.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
In the longer term, she sees big strides in preventing tartar build-up and halting receding gums.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?|DailyBurn|March 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Smiling on the red carpet, Gaga showed off a set of oversized rotten dentures, featuring "metallic gums and crooked teeth."
Lady Gaga Experiments with Rotten Teeth; Kerry Washington Plays a Realistic Michelle Obama|The Fashion Beast Team|November 4, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Upon it they wrote with pens made of split reeds and with a thick ink made of soot (lampblack) mixed with resinous gums.
The Private Life of the Romans|Harold Whetstone Johnston
Were these gums in any degree mixed with undrying substances?
Blackwood's Edinburgh Magazine, Volume 57, No. 356, June, 1845|Various
From the melancholy gums strips of white bark hang and rustle.
Poems|Adam Lindsay Gordon
In substance they differ from all the other apartments, being formed of particles of wood, apparently joined together with gums.
The Book of Curiosities|I. Platts
There is some friction between the tongue and the gums, but that against the front teeth is more noticeable.
The Sounds of Spoken English|Walter Rippmann

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

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

Idioms about gum

Origin of gum

OTHER WORDS FROM gum

Other definitions for gum (2 of 3)

Origin of gum

Other definitions for gum (3 of 3)

Origin of gum

Words related to gum

How to use gum in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for gum (1 of 4)

Derived forms of gum

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum (2 of 4)

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum (3 of 4)

Word Origin for gum

British Dictionary definitions for gum (4 of 4)

Scientific definitions for gum (1 of 2)

Scientific definitions for gum (2 of 2)