gum
1 (gŭm)
[Middle English gomme, from Old French, from Late Latin gumma, variant of Latin gummi, cummi, from Greek kommi, perhaps from Egyptian ḳmj-t.]
noun
- Any of various viscous substances that are exuded by certain plants and trees and dry into water-soluble, noncrystalline, brittle solids.
- A similar plant exudate, such as a resin.
- Any of various adhesives made from such exudates or other sticky substance.
- A substance resembling the viscous substance exuded by certain plants, as in stickiness.
- Any of various trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Liquidambar, or Nyssa that are sources of gum. Also called gum tree
- The wood of such a tree; gumwood.
- Chewing gum.
verb: gummed, gum·ming, gums.
transitive verb
- To cover, smear, seal, fill, or fix in place with or as if with gum.
intransitive verb
- To exude or form gum.
- To become sticky or clogged.
phrasal verbs
- gum up
- To ruin or bungle: gum up the works.
