gum

1 of 4

noun (1)

ˈgəm 

: 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

gum

2 of 4

verb (1)

gummed; gumming

transitive verb

1

: to enlarge gullets of (a saw)

2

: to chew with the gums

gum

3 of 4

noun (2)

1

a

: any of numerous colloidal polysaccharide substances of plant origin that are gelatinous when moist but harden on drying and are salts of complex organic acids compare mucilage sense 1

b

: any of various plant exudates (such as an oleoresin or gum resin)

2

: a substance or deposit resembling a plant gum (as in sticky or adhesive quality)

3

a

: a tree (such as a black gum) that yields gum

b

Australia : eucalyptus

4

: the wood or lumber of a gum

especially : that of the sweet gum

5

: chewing gum

gum

4 of 4

verb (2)

gummed; gumming

transitive verb

: to clog, impede, or damage with or as if with gum

gum up the works

intransitive verb

1

: to exude or form gum

2

: to become gummy

gummer noun

Synonyms

Verb (2)

• block
• choke
• clog
• clot
• congest
• dam
• jam
• obstruct
• occlude
• plug (up)
• stop (up)
• stuff

Examples of gum in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Fusobacterium nucleatum build-up is a common cause of gum disease. —Claire Bugos, Verywell Health, 8 Apr. 2024

That was before McLeod learned that facility employees left her mother's dentures in for so long that Betty's gums had grown and stuck to them. —Sahana Jayaraman, The Arizona Republic, 4 Apr. 2024

Chewing encourages blood flow to the teeth and gums, which is important in helping the teeth maintain itself. —Michael Carroll, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024

Plush tannins coat the tongue and gums while spice notes linger into a lengthy finish. —Mike Desimone and Jeff Jenssen, Robb Report, 1 Apr. 2024

More severe symptoms include bleeding gums and nose, abdominal pain and persistent vomiting. Those who've gotten dengue previously are more likely to become seriously ill with a subsequent infection. —Joe Hernandez, NPR, 27 Mar. 2024

Ink is a nebulous material, Little explained in a phone call, made from nearly anything rich in pigments along with the binder gum Arabic. —Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 28 Mar. 2024

An ode to Willie Mays, the No. 24 consists of Bulleit Rye Whiskey, gum syrup, angostura and orange butters served over ice shaped like a baseball. —Jason Mastrodonato, The Mercury News, 24 Mar. 2024

Weird signs your period is coming include appetite changes, mood changes, mouth or gum pain, and sensitive skin. —Anthea Levi, Health, 16 Mar. 2024

Verb

Now, experts and analysts worry that with generative AI, election deniers could mass-produce FOIA requests at an even greater rate, drowning the election workers legally obligated to reply to them in paperwork and gumming up the electoral process. —Vittoria Elliott, WIRED, 10 Apr. 2024

Political scientists say the growing partisan gridlock gumming up Washington over the past 20 years has created the conditions for states that are handily controlled by one party or the other, like Texas and California, to set off on their own. Got a news tip about the courts? —Jack Healy, New York Times, 20 Mar. 2024

Biden’s effort could well be slowed if, as widely expected, Republicans take control of the Senate and gum up the confirmation works. —Jackie Calmes, The Mercury News, 19 Mar. 2024

Singapore famously banned the sale, import and manufacturing of chewing gum in 1992, blaming the careless disposal of the substance on subways for gumming up service. —By dee-Ann Durbin, Quartz, 7 Mar. 2024

Countries such as Hungary might even side with Russia while remaining in NATO, passing intelligence to Moscow, mocking the idea of a unified alliance, and gumming up European decisions that rely on consensus. —Liana Fix, Foreign Affairs, 22 Mar. 2024

Macdonald will try to keep the picture in front of Mahomes confusing, shifting coverages and using Hamilton and Pro Bowl linebackers Roquan Smith and Patrick Queen to gum up the middle of the field. —Childs Walker, Baltimore Sun, 24 Jan. 2024

In the past, Fox’s defender would be able to hedge off him, knowing Fox wasn’t a lethal 3-point threat like he’s become this year, and gum up the action. —Chris Biderman, Sacramento Bee, 1 Feb. 2024

That soon changed as the Panthers gummed up the middle of the floor, deflected entry passes and forced jump balls. —The Enquirer, 29 Jan. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

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

Noun (2)

Middle English gomme, from Middle French, from Latin cummi, gummi, from Greek kommi, from Egyptian qmyt

First Known Use

Noun (1)

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1777, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb (2)

1597, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Phrases Containing gum

• blue gum
• bubble gum
• by gum
• chewing gum
• black gum
• gum arabic
• gum resin
• gum boot
• gum tree
• gum turpentine
• gum up the works
• gum up (something)
• sour gum
• red gum
• karaya gum
• spirit gum
• sweet gum
• up a gum tree
• xanthan gum
• guar gum
• gum tragacanth

Kids Definition

gum

1 of 3 noun

ˈgəm 

: the tissue along the jaws of animals that surrounds the necks of the teeth

gum

2 of 3 noun

1

: any of numerous complex sticky colloidal substances (as gum arabic) that are obtained from plants, harden on drying, and are either soluble in water or swell up in contact with water and that are used in preparing some drugs, for adhesives, as food thickeners, and in inks

also : any of various gummy plant substances including natural resins, rubber, and rubberlike substances

2

: a substance resembling a plant gum (as in stickiness)

3

: a tree that yields a gum

4

: chewing gum

gum

3 of 3 verb

gummed; gumming

1

: to smear, seal, or clog with or as if with gum

2

: to cause not to work properly

gum up the works

Etymology

Noun

Old English gōma "roof of the mouth, palate"

Noun

Middle English gomme "plant gum," from early French gomme (same meaning), from Latin cummi, gummi (same meaning), derived from Egyptian qmyt "plant gum"

Medical Definition

gum

1 of 3 noun

ˈgəm 

: 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

gum

2 of 3 transitive verb

gummed; gumming

: to chew with the gums

gum

3 of 3 noun

1

: any of numerous colloidal polysaccharide substances of plant origin that are gelatinous when moist but harden on drying and are salts of complex organic acids compare mucilage

2

: any of various plant exudates (as a mucilage, oleoresin, or gum resin)