Gum Definition

gŭm
gummed, gumming, gums
noun
gums
A sticky, colloidal carbohydrate found in certain trees and plants, which dries into an uncrystallized, brittle mass that dissolves or swells in water.
Webster's New World
Any similar plant secretion, as resin.
Webster's New World
Any plant gum processed for use in industry, art, etc.
Webster's New World
Any of various sticky or viscous substances or deposits.
Webster's New World
An adhesive, as on the back of a postage stamp.
Webster's New World
verb
gummed, gumming, gums
To coat, unite, or stiffen with gum.
Webster's New World
To secrete or form gum.
Webster's New World
To bite or chew with toothless gums.
Webster's New World
To become sticky or clogged.
Webster's New World

To apply an adhesive or gum to; to stiffen with gum.

Wiktionary
Synonyms:
abbreviation
Genitourinary medicine.
Wiktionary
idiom
by gum!
  • by God!
Webster's New World
gum up
  • to put out of working order; cause to go awry
Webster's New World
beat one's gums
  • to talk much and idly
Webster's New World

Other Word Forms of Gum

Noun

Singular:
gum
Plural:
gums

Idioms, Phrasal Verbs Related to Gum

Origin of Gum

  • From Middle English gome, from Old English gōma (“palate”), from Proto-Germanic *gōmô, *gaumô (“palate”) (compare German Gaumen, Old Norse gómr whence Icelandic gómur), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰh₂u-mo- (compare Tocharian A ko, Tocharian B koyṃ (“mouth”), Lithuanian gomurỹs (“palate”)), from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰeh₂w- (“to gape, yawn”). More at yawn.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English gomme, gumme, from Anglo-Norman gome, from Late Latin gumma, from Latin cummi, gummi, from Ancient Greek κόμμι (kómmi), from Egyptian ḳmj-t (qemỵt, qemài) 'acanthus resin'.

    From Wiktionary

  • Middle English gomme from Old French from Late Latin gumma variant of Latin gummi, cummi from Greek kommi perhaps from Egyptian ḳmj-t

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • Middle English gome from Old English gōma palate, jaw

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

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