Gum
WordNet
noun
(1) The tissue (covered by mucous membrane) of the jaws that surrounds the bases of the teeth
(2) A preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
(3) Any of various trees of the genera Eucalyptus or Liquidambar or Nyssa that are sources of gum
(4) Wood or lumber from any of various gum trees especially the sweet gum
(5) Cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive
(6) Any of various substances (soluble in water) that exude from certain plants; they are gelatinous when moist but harden on drying
verb
(7) Exude or form gum
"These trees gum in the Spring"
(8) Become sticky
(9) Grind with the gums; chew without teeth and with great difficulty
"The old man had no teeth left and mumbled his food"
(10) Cover, fill, fix or smear with or as if with gum
"If you gum the tape it is stronger"
WiktionaryText
Etymology 1
Old English goma; akin to German Gaumen 'gums', Old Norse gomr ‘palate’.
Verb
- To chew, especially of a toothless person or animal
- To befoul, to complicate, to mess up. Normally used with "up".
- That cheap oil will gum up the engine valves.
- The new editor can gum up your article with too many commas.
Etymology 2
gomme, from gome, from Late Latin gumma, from gummi, from Greek κόμμι, from Egyptian kema., kemai 'resin'.
Noun
- any of various viscous or sticky substances that are exuded by certain plants
- any viscous or sticky substance resembling those that are exuded by certain plants
- chewing gum
- a single piece of chewing gum
- Do you have a gum I could have?
Related terms
Verb
- To apply an adhesive or gum to
- With up, to impair the functioning of a thing or process.