Definition of "gum" in English

noun

1. (often in the plural) The flesh around the teeth.

verb

1. To chew, especially of a toothless person or animal.

2. (transitive) To deepen and enlarge the spaces between the teeth of (a worn saw), as with a gummer.

noun

1. (botany, biochemistry, chiefly uncountable) A viscous water-soluble carbohydrate exudate of certain plants that hardens when it becomes dry, or such a substance as a component of a plant exudate.

   • gum arabic
   • gum-oleo-resin

2. (chiefly uncountable) Any viscous or sticky substance resembling the true gum.

   • gum benzoin

3. (chiefly uncountable) Chewing gum.

4. (countable) A single piece of chewing gum.

   • Do you have a gum to spare?

5. (South Africa, often in the plural) A gummi candy.

6. (US, dialect, Southern US) A hive made of a section of a hollow gum tree; hence, any roughly made hive.

7. (US, dialect, Southern US) A vessel or bin made from a hollow log.

8. (US, dialect) A rubber overshoe.

9. A gum tree, any of various types of trees or an individual thereof.

verb

1. (sometimes with up) To apply an adhesive or gum to; to make sticky by applying a sticky substance to.

2. To stiffen with glue or gum.

3. (sometimes with together) To inelegantly attach into a sequence.

4. (colloquial, with up) To impair the functioning of a thing or process.

   • That cheap oil will gum up the engine valves.
   • The new editor can gum up your article with too many commas.