gum¹ Definition
gum (gum)
noun
- a sticky, colloidal carbohydrate found in certain trees and plants, which dries into an uncrystallized, brittle mass that dissolves or swells in water
- any similar plant secretion, as resin
- any plant gum processed for use in industry, art, etc.
- an adhesive, as on the back of a postage stamp
- any of various sticky or viscous substances or deposits
- gum tree
- the wood of a gum tree
- Now Rare
- pure rubber
- ☆ rubber overshoes
- ☆ chewing gum
- ☆ Dialectal a hollowed gum log used as a trough, etc.
Etymology: ME gomme < OFr < LL gumma < L gummi, cummi < Gr kommi < Egypt qmyt
transitive verb gummed, gum′·ming
to coat, unite, or stiffen with gum
intransitive verb
- to secrete or form gum
- to become sticky or clogged
gum¹ Idioms
by gum!
Informal by God!: a euphemism
gum up
☆Slang to put out of working order; cause to go awry
gum² Definition
gum (gum; esp. formerly, go̵̅o̅m)
noun
the firm flesh covering the jaws on the inside of the mouth and surrounding the base of the teeth
Etymology: ME gome < OE goma, akin to Ger gaumen, roof of the mouth < IE base *ghēu-, *ghōu-, to yawn, gape > Gr chaos
transitive verb gummed, gum′·ming
to bite or chew with toothless gums
gum² Idioms
beat one's gums
☆Slang to talk much and idly
gum Synonyms
gum
n.
resin, glue, pitch, tar, pine tar, cohesive substance, rosin, amber, wax. Commercial gums include: chewing gum, sealing wax, rosin, mucilage, eucalyptus, caoutchouc, crude rubber, chicle, latex, gum arabic, gum acacia, wattle gum, Kordofan, British gum, cherry-gum, Sonora gum, gutta-percha, sweet gum, guar gum, mesquite gum, gum maguey, gum ledon.
Varieties and flavors of chewing gum include: cinnamon, bubble gum, spearmint, peppermint, sugar-free, wintergreen, teaberry, licorice, fruit, pepsin.
gum Usage Examples
Converse of object
- chew: I gave them a stick of chewing gum between them for their trouble.
- bleed: Bleeding gums is usually a sign of gum disease.
- inflame: Cats are very prone to inflamed gums ( gingivitis ).
Adjective modifier
- sugar-free: Try some sugar-free gum, a glass of water, or keep yourself busy.
- guar: Sixty-seven trials were identified: 25 trials of oat products; 17 of psyllium; 7 of pectin; and 18 of guar gum.
- 2mg: In general, if the patient smokes 20 or less cigarettes a day, 2mg nicotine gum is indicated.
- 4mg: You should not exceed 15 pieces of gum per day for either the 2mg or 4mg strength gum.
- swollen: These may include poor memory and concentration, irritability and overactivity in children, swollen gums, acne and weight gain.
Modifies a noun
- Arabic: True gum arabic is the product of Acacia Senegal, abundant in dry tropical west Africa from Senegal to northern Nigeria.
- rosin: Here's the place chinese gum rosin to get involved.
- tragacanth: If dry objects like foraminifera are loose, freshly made gum tragacanth may be used to secure them.
- chewer: Gum chewers are unlikely to wander to the nearest ' fun ' poster which could be a few minutes walk away.
- wrapper: Ya ' din ' hafta ' shoot ' at guy over a damn gum wrapper.
- outsole: DESIGN: White slip on, with blue lines, durable gum rubber outsole.
Noun used with modifier
- xanthan: Caramel ( E150 ) and xanthan gum ( E415 ) may be derived from maize.
- guar: Results Soluble fiber from oat products, psyllium, pectin and guar gum lowered total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol by a small amount.
- nicotine: Nicotine gum to stop smoking What is nicotine gum?
- mastic: Mastic gum, a resin, comes from the sap of the mastic tree in the Mediterranean.
- locust: Consumers are urged to check the labeling to see which contain the locust bean gum.
- bah: The laughs never stop right up to the final " Ee bah gum!
Browse dictionary entries near gum
- ‹ gulp
- ‹ gulosity
- ‹ gully
- ‹ Gulliver's Travels
- ‹ gullible
- ‹ gullet
- ‹ Gullah
- ‹ gull
- ‹ gulfweed
- ‹ Gulf War syndrome
- gum ammoniac ›
- gum arabic ›
- gum elemi ›
- gum resin ›
- gum tree ›
- gum turpentine ›
- gumbo ›
- gumbo-limbo ›
- gumboil ›
- gumboot ›

