1. Any of various substances (soluble in water) that exude from certain plants; they are gelatinous when moist but harden on drying
   "The chef used gum arabic as a stabilizer in the candy recipe"
    
2. Cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive
   "He used a strong gum to repair the broken vase";
   - glue, mucilage
    
3. The tissue (covered by mucous membrane) of the jaws that surrounds the bases of the teeth
   "Healthy gum is crucial for maintaining good oral hygiene";
   - gingiva
    
4. A preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing
   "She blew a large bubble with her chewing gum";
   - chewing gum
    
5. Any of various trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Liquidambar or Nyssa that are sources of gum
   "The koalas preferred the leaves of the tall gum tree";
   - gum tree
    
6. Wood or lumber from any of various gum trees especially the sweet gum
   "gum is often used for furniture and interior trim";
   - gumwood

1. Exude or form gum
   "these trees gum in the spring"
    
2. Cover, fill, fix or smear with or as if with gum
   "if you gum the tape it is stronger"
    
3. Grind with the gums; chew without teeth and with great difficulty
   "the old man had no teeth left and gummed his food";
   - mumble
    
4. Become sticky
   "The old tape gummed up and wouldn't play"

Derived forms: gummed, gumming, gums

Type of: animal tissue, apply, cement, change, chew, confection, exudate, exudation, exude, manducate [archaic], masticate, ooze, ooze out, put on, sweet, transude, tree, wood

Part of: cakehole [Brit, informal], gob [Brit, informal], hole [informal], kisser [informal], maw [informal], mouth, oral cavity, oral fissure, trap [informal], yap [N. Amer, informal]

Encyclopedia: Gum, Disease