Main Entry:

¹gum

Pronunciation:

\ˈgəm\

Function:

noun

Etymology:

Middle English gome, from Old English gōma palate; akin to Old High German guomo palate, and perhaps to Greek chaos abyss

Date:

before 12th century

: the tissue that surrounds the necks of teeth and covers the alveolar parts of the jaws ; broadly : the alveolar portion of a jaw with its enveloping soft tissues