gum¹

[guhm]

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.

Idioms

gum up the works. work(def 51).

Origin of gum¹

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

Related formsgum·less, adjectivegum·like, adjective

gum²

[guhm]

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.

Idioms

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

Origin of gum²

1275–1325; Middle English gome, Old English gōma palate; akin to Old Norse gōmr, German Gaumen palate

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for gums

Contemporary Examples

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
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
After you spit out the oil, rub the remaining oil into your gums.
Oil Pulling: Miracle Cure or Oily Mess?
DailyBurn
March 28, 2014
Ahmad claims that four plainclothes officers cuffed him to a chair, jammed open his mouth, and electrocuted his gums.
Assad’s House of Torture
Anna Therese Day
October 14, 2012

Historical Examples

He lifted up his hoofs, looked at his gums, and listened to the beating of his heart.
Doctor Pascal
Emile Zola
A tincture for the gums may be made of three ounces of the tincture of bark, and half an ounce of sal ammoniac, mixed together.
The Cook and Housekeeper's Complete and Universal Dictionary; Including a System of Modern Cookery, in all Its Various Branches,
Mary Eaton
These are cases in which lancing the gums would do nothing but mischief.
The Mother's Manual of Children's Diseases
Charles West, M.D.
The addition of gums, as recommended in some books, is unnecessary.
On Laboratory Arts
Richard Threlfall
And the circle of old men champed their gums, and nodded approvingly, and coughed.
Lost Face
Jack London

British Dictionary definitions for gums

GUM

abbreviation for

genitourinary medicine

gum¹

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

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

gum²

noun

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

Word Origin

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

gum³

noun

used in the mild oath by gum!

Word Origin

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 gums

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.

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).

gum

v.

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.

gums in Science

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.

gum²

[gŭm]

See gingiva.

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gum2

Origin of gum2

Examples from the Web for gums

Contemporary Examples

Or maybe we just need one of those bogus “alien invasions” that Paul Krugman is always flapping his gums about.

Lactobacillus reuteri LR-1 or LR-2 promote oral health by binding to teeth and gums, preventing plaque formation in the mouth.

After you spit out the oil, rub the remaining oil into your gums.

Ahmad claims that four plainclothes officers cuffed him to a chair, jammed open his mouth, and electrocuted his gums.

Historical Examples

He lifted up his hoofs, looked at his gums, and listened to the beating of his heart.

A tincture for the gums may be made of three ounces of the tincture of bark, and half an ounce of sal ammoniac, mixed together.

These are cases in which lancing the gums would do nothing but mischief.

The addition of gums, as recommended in some books, is unnecessary.

And the circle of old men champed their gums, and nodded approvingly, and coughed.

GUM

gum1

Word Origin

gum2

Word Origin

gum3

Word Origin

Word Origin and History for gums

gum

n.1

gum

n.2

gum

v.

gum1

gum2

gum¹

Origin of gum¹

gum²

Origin of gum²

gum¹

gum²

gum³

gum¹

gum²