gum

1
[ guhm ]
See synonyms for gum on Thesaurus.com
noun
  1. any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air and soluble in or forming a viscid mass with water.

  2. any of various similar exudations, as resin.

  1. a preparation of such a substance, as for use in the arts or bookbinding.

  2. mucilage; glue.

  3. Philately. the adhesive by which a postage stamp is affixed.: Compare o.g. (def. 2).

  4. Informal. a rubber overshoe or boot.

verb (used with object),gummed, gum·ming.
  1. to smear, stiffen, or stick together with gum.

  2. to clog with or as if with some gummy substance.

verb (used without object),gummed, gum·ming.
  1. to exude or form gum.

  2. to become gummy.

  1. to become clogged with a gummy substance.

Verb Phrases
  1. gum up, Slang. to spoil or ruin.

Idioms about gum

  1. gum up the works. work (def. 51).

Origin of gum

1
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, adjective
  • gumlike, adjective

Other definitions for gum (2 of 3)

gum2
[ guhm ]

noun
  1. 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.
  1. to masticate (food) with the gums instead of teeth.

  2. to shape or renew the teeth of (a saw), as by grinding.

Origin of gum

2
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 ]

Origin of gum

3
First recorded in 1825–35; euphemism for God

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

British Dictionary definitions for gum (1 of 4)

gum1

/ (ɡʌm) /


noun
  1. any of various sticky substances that exude from certain plants, hardening on exposure to air and dissolving or forming viscous masses in water

  2. any of various products, such as adhesives, that are made from such exudates

  1. any sticky substance used as an adhesive; mucilage; glue

  2. NZ short for kauri gum

  3. mainly British a gumdrop

verbgums, gumming or gummed
  1. to cover or become covered, clogged, or stiffened with or as if with gum

  2. (tr) to stick together or in place with gum

  1. (intr) to emit or form gum

Origin of gum

1
C14: from Old French gomme, from Latin gummi, from Greek kommi, from Egyptian kemai

Derived forms of gum

  • gumless, adjective
  • gumlike, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for gum (2 of 4)

gum2

/ (ɡʌm) /


noun
  1. the fleshy tissue that covers the jawbones around the bases of the teeth: Technical name: gingiva Related adjective: gingival

Origin of gum

2
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
  1. used in the mild oath by gum!

Origin of gum

3
C19: euphemism for God

British Dictionary definitions for GUM (4 of 4)

GUM

abbreviation for
  1. 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 ]


  1. 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 ]


The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.