gumdrop

noun

gum·​drop ˈgəm-ˌdräp How to pronounce gumdrop (audio)
: a sugar-coated candy made usually from corn syrup with gelatin or gum arabic

Example Sentences

Recent Examples on the Web The book’s gumdrop-bright portraits by Mx. New York Times, 20 June 2022 Six infrared emitters in the Caddy’s steering wheel rim illuminate the driver’s face, allowing the gumdrop-size camera atop the steering column to monitor facial position, eyelid movements, and the focal point of the driver’s pupils. IEEE Spectrum, 30 Mar. 2018 Looking like the lovechild of an alien life form and a gumdrop, the genus Thismia (commonly known as fairy lanterns) is one of the plant world’s stranger creations. Melissa Breyer, Treehugger, 27 Feb. 2023 That experience of surviving in hostile climates and uncomfortable environments is critical for a crew who will be cramped inside a 17-foot-wide (5-meter-wide), gumdrop-shaped capsule for roughly 10 days. Kristin Fisher, CNN, 29 Jan. 2023 The release of the colorful gumdrop iMacs in 1998, an agreement with Microsoft, and the sale of Apple’s ARM stock had brought the company from near-bankruptcy to a solid financial footing. Jeremy Reimer, Ars Technica, 17 Jan. 2023 An idyllic three-story building with crystal sugar snow, marshmallow snowmen, and gumdrop twinkle lights can quickly end in a collapsed mess, sending icing windows and candy cane gates into disarray. Catherine Hu, Discover Magazine, 23 Dec. 2014 Atop the rocket is the Orion spacecraft, a gumdrop-shaped capsule that will break away after reaching space. Jackie Wattles, CNN, 16 Nov. 2022 The Starliner—a gumdrop-shaped vehicle with room for seven people—so far hasn’t been able to complete a test mission to the orbiting facility. Micah Maidenberg, WSJ, 19 May 2022 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gumdrop.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of gumdrop was in 1860

Dictionary Entries Near gumdrop

Cite this Entry

“Gumdrop.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gumdrop. Accessed 28 May. 2023.

Kids Definition

gumdrop

noun
gum·​drop -ˌdräp How to pronounce gumdrop (audio)
: a candy made usually from corn syrup with gelatin or gum arabic and coated with sugar crystals

More from Merriam-Webster on gumdrop

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