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gum

gum

42 1.9
A sticky substance from plants or made in factories used to join things
  • noun
  • /ɡʌm/
translation icon : goma
  • The children enjoyed chewing gum while playing outside on a sunny day.
  • xanthan gum

One sidelong stroke of gum suspended soot away from regret.

Examples

  • The gum I use to keep the engine together is wearing out.

  • A beer can is stuck to the gum on the bottom of her shoe.

    Fiction book (1993)
  • There was a gum wrapper on the ground that he picked up and examined.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • All the walls are covered in gum, cigarettes, wrappers.

  • The gum arabic method makes it possible for the photograph to resemble an Impressionist painting.

    Academic text (2000)
  • And crowds gather under the gum tree Sunday mornings and sometimes late, late in the weekday evenings.

    Fiction book (2000)
  • Stay refreshed with Trident Spearmint, sugar free gum #holitosis.

  • The gum used for gluing the pieces together worked perfectly on the model.

  • He applied a small amount of gum to reinforce the bond between the two materials.

Synonyms

glue
vsgum
214 1.0

A sticky substance used to join things together

is broader, including natural or synthetic sticky substances beyond manufactured joiners
resin
vsgum
  • Specialized
26 4.4

A thick sticky substance from plants or made by people for glue and plastic

is broader, covering both plant and synthetic sticky materials used as adhesives
spirit gum
vsgum
  • Specialized
2 8.1

Glue that sticks fake hair or makeup pieces to skin

is the general sticky substance category that includes such specialized adhesives
guar gum
vsgum
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A powder from guar seeds used to thicken foods and help make paper and cloth

is more general, meaning sticky substances that can also glue or bind materials
mucilage
vsgum
  • Specialized
1 9.6

A thick sticky substance from plants used as glue

is the broader sticky material concept that often functions as an adhesive
gum arabic
vsgum
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A sticky natural substance from the acacia tree used to thicken foods, candies, and medicines

is the more general sticky substance used as an adhesive or binder
1 3.4

A sticky substance like glue that holds two surfaces together

is the specific kind of sticky material often used for bonding or sealing
sticky goop
vsgum
  • Informal
1 5.4

A thick glue-like substance that clings to things and makes a mess

is the technical term for plant or synthetic sticky substances used as adhesives
gum resin
vsgum
  • Specialized
6.1

A sticky natural substance from trees used to make medicines, varnish, and incense

is the general sticky plant or synthetic substance used mainly as an adhesive
natural resin
vsgum
  • Specialized
4.4

A sticky material some plants make, like amber, that people use in varnish and glue

is a wider category including similar plant exudates and synthetic sticky substances
gum acacia
vsgum
  • Specialized
6.7

A natural sticky substance from acacia trees used to thicken food and medicine

is broader, meaning any sticky plant or synthetic material used to bind things
Senegal gum
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.6

A natural gum from trees called acacia near the Senegal River used to thicken or stabilize food and medicines

is the general sticky substance category that can include this regional extract
sweet gum
vsgum
  • US
7.7

A sticky fragrant substance from a tree used in medicine and perfume

is the general sticky material that may serve as a chewing or adhesive base
Congo gum
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.9

A hard sticky substance from trees in Africa used to make varnish and glue

is the broader term covering many sticky tree substances and synthetics
eucalyptus gum
vsgum
  • Australian
7.5

A reddish-brown sticky substance from eucalyptus bark used in medicine and food

is the general name for sticky plant or synthetic substances used to bond
gum benzoin
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.6

A sticky substance from trees with a sweet scent used to protect skin and scent perfumes and incense

is more general, describing sticky substances used chiefly as adhesives or binders
gum benjamin
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.9

A fragrant resin from trees used in perfumes and to soothe irritated skin

is the broader sticky substance category that can include fragrant extracts
gum olibanum
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.9

A fragrant resin from trees burned as incense in religious ceremonies

is the general sticky material term that also covers ceremonial extracts
gum albanum
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.9

A bitter, strong-smelling gum that people use in traditional medicine and as a spice

is the broader sticky substance idea used mostly as an adhesive or binder
gum ammoniac
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.9

A sticky, fragrant substance from a plant used in medicine and to make varnish

is the wider category for plant or synthetic sticky materials used to join things
gum anime
vsgum
  • Specialized
9.9

A sticky substance from some tropical trees that people use to make varnish and incense

is broader, referring to any sticky natural or synthetic adhesive substance
butea gum
vsgum
  • Indian
9.9

A sticky plant substance from the dhak tree used to help heal small wounds

is the general sticky substance term that includes medicinal tree extracts

Idioms

To do two simple things at the same time

9.9

To be finished and unable to continue working or succeeding

up a gum tree
  • Australian
9.8

In a difficult situation with no easy way out

Compounds

25 1.0

A sweet piece you chew to freshen your breath but do not swallow

14 1.0

A sweet chewing gum that you can blow into bubbles

9 1.0

A small chewy piece of candy you chew once

spirit gum
  • Specialized
2 8.1

Glue that sticks fake hair or makeup pieces to skin

1 3.7

A tree that makes a sticky, sweet-smelling sap like eucalyptus

guar gum
  • Specialized
1 6.1

A powder from guar seeds used to thicken foods and help make paper and cloth

1 1.4

A small round piece of chewing gum with a hard colored sugar coating often sold in vending machines

red gum
  • Australian
1 8.8

A large Australian eucalyptus tree with smooth bark and reddish wood

gum arabic
  • Specialized
1 5.5

A sticky natural substance from the acacia tree used to thicken foods, candies, and medicines

1 6.0

A North American tree with spiky round seed balls and sweet-smelling sap and red leaves in autumn

1 6.1

A North American tree with star-shaped leaves and prickly round fruits

7.2

A tall fast-growing eucalyptus tree with bluish young leaves used for timber and medicine

black gum
  • Specialized
7.5

A tall tree in eastern North America with horizontal branches and bright red autumn leaves

black gum
  • Australian
9.9

A small Australian eucalyptus tree with rough dark bark at the base and red sap

butea gum
  • Indian
9.9

A sticky plant substance from the dhak tree used to help heal small wounds

bubble gum dermatitis
  • Specialized
7.4

A skin rash around the lips after chewing bubble gum with artificial colors or flavors

cherry-tree gum
  • Specialized
9.3

A sticky substance that comes from cherry tree bark and is used to make food thicker

chicle gum
  • Archaic
5.9

A natural sticky substance from the sapodilla tree used to make chewing gum

cider gum
  • Australian
9.0

A small to medium tree from Tasmania grown for its sweet sap and as a garden tree

A Mediterranean shrub with white flowers and sticky leaves that produce fragrant sap used in perfume

Congo gum
  • Specialized
9.9

A hard sticky substance from trees in Africa used to make varnish and glue

accroides gum
  • Archaic
9.9

A yellow sticky substance from some Australian trees used to make varnishes and paper

A North American tree with star-shaped leaves, spiky round fruit, and sticky fragrant sap

eucalyptus gum
  • Australian
7.5

A reddish-brown sticky substance from eucalyptus bark used in medicine and food

flooded gum
  • Australian
9.9

A tall Australian tree that grows in wet soil near rivers

forest red gum
  • Australian
9.1

A tall tree from eastern Australia with hard wood and smooth bark

kino gum
  • Specialized
9.9

A red or black sticky substance from tropical trees that people use to tan leather and treat wounds

lemon-scented gum
  • Australian
8.8

A tall Australian tree with smooth bark and a strong lemon smell from its leaves

manna gum
  • Australian
9.9

A tall Australian eucalyptus tree whose bark gives a sweet sticky substance

mesquite gum
  • Specialized
8.5

A natural sticky sweet substance from mesquite tree pods used in food and products

mountain swamp gum
  • Australian
9.9

A medium-sized eucalyptus tree that grows in swampy mountain areas in New South Wales and Victoria, Australia

ghatti gum
  • Indian
9.9

A natural sticky substance from the dhawa tree used to thicken food and other products

ghost gum
  • Australian
8.8

A small or medium tree from Australia and Tasmania with smooth pale bark that peels in strips

gum acacia
  • Specialized
6.7

A natural sticky substance from acacia trees used to thicken food and medicine

gum accroides
  • Australian
9.9

A sticky natural substance from some Australian trees that makers use for varnish and paper

gum albanum
  • Specialized
9.9

A bitter, strong-smelling gum that people use in traditional medicine and as a spice

gum ammoniac
  • Specialized
9.9

A sticky, fragrant substance from a plant used in medicine and to make varnish

gum anime
  • Specialized
9.9

A sticky substance from some tropical trees that people use to make varnish and incense

gum benjamin
  • Specialized
9.9

A fragrant resin from trees used in perfumes and to soothe irritated skin

gum benzoin
  • Specialized
9.6

A sticky substance from trees with a sweet scent used to protect skin and scent perfumes and incense

gum boot
  • Australian
3.2

A high rubber shoe that keeps your feet dry in wet or muddy places

gum butea
  • Indian
9.9

A dried sticky juice from the dhak tree used in medicine to help red, sore skin

gum ridge
  • Specialized
6.7

A raised part of the jawbone that holds the teeth

gum turpentine
  • Specialized
9.3

A sticky liquid from pine trees used to thin paint and clean brushes

gum dammar
  • Specialized
9.9

A hard pale material from certain trees used in varnish, incense, and to make paint shiny

gum elastic
  • Specialized
7.5

A natural stretchy material from tree sap used to make rubber things like tires or tubing

gum elemi
  • Specialized
9.9

A fragrant resin from trees used in incense, varnish, and perfume

gum euphorbium
  • Specialized
9.9

A bitter brown plant gum once used in medicine and now used mainly for animals

gum kino
  • Specialized
9.9

A reddish sticky substance from tropical trees used to make leather and as a medicine

gum labdanum
  • Specialized
9.9

A thick sticky substance from rockrose bushes that helps perfume keep its smell

gum myrrh
  • Specialized
9.9

A thick sticky substance from some trees that people burn to make a pleasant smell and use in perfume

gum olibanum
  • Specialized
9.9

A fragrant resin from trees burned as incense in religious ceremonies

gum plant
  • Specialized
8.8

A western American plant with sticky leaves sometimes used as medicine but poisonous to animals

gum resin
  • Specialized
6.1

A sticky natural substance from trees used to make medicines, varnish, and incense

gum-lac
  • Specialized
9.9

A sticky material that insects make in Madagascar and people use for varnish and dye

karaya gum
  • Specialized
9.8

A sticky natural gum from an Asian tree used to thicken food and cosmetics and to make fabrics smooth

kauri gum
  • New Zealand
9.9

A hard sticky substance from kauri trees in New Zealand used to make varnish and linoleum

red gum
  • US
8.9

A North American tree with spiky round fruits and scented sap

red gum
  • US
7.5

Reddish-brown wood from a tree used for making furniture and floors

river gum
  • Australian
7.8

A tall Australian tree with crooked branches that grows by rivers and has strong reddish wood

river red gum
  • Australian
7.9

A large Australian tree with hard red wood used for building that grows along rivers

rose gum
  • Australian
8.2

A very tall eucalyptus tree from eastern Australia grown for its strong wood and for parks

peppermint gum
  • Australian
8.1

A tall tree from Tasmania with leaves that smell like mint

Senegal gum
  • Specialized
9.6

A natural gum from trees called acacia near the Senegal River used to thicken or stabilize food and medicines

7.7

A sticky fragrant substance from a tree used in medicine and perfume

7.0

Reddish-brown wood from a North American tree used to make furniture

swamp gum
  • Australian
9.5

A medium-sized tree from southern Australia that grows in damp or swampy places

snow gum
  • Australian
8.8

A small Australian or Tasmanian tree with smooth light coloured bark that peels in strips

Sonora gum
  • Specialized
9.9

A slightly sour gum from a desert shrub used in traditional medicine

8.4

A tree that loses its leaves in autumn and has bright red leaves and small blue berries

sour-gum family
  • Specialized
9.9

A group of related trees that make flowers and fruit, like the sour gum tree

spotted gum
  • Australian
9.3

A large Australian tree with smooth spotted bark and strong wood

sterculia gum
  • Specialized
9.9

A sticky substance from Asian Sterculia trees used to thicken food, cosmetics, and cloth

How Sticky

glue
214 1.0
tar
65 4.1
gum
42 1.9
resin
  • Specialized
26 4.4

Surface Forms

gum singular
gums plural

Etymology

Gum comes from an old word gummi meaning 'sap' or 'resin' from trees. Think of tree sap that becomes sticky — that is why gum means a sticky substance used as a glue.