Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
gum ammoniac

gum ammoniac

9.9
A sticky, fragrant substance from a plant used in medicine and to make varnish
  • noun
  • /ɡʌm əˈmoʊniæk/
  • Specialized
translation icon : goma de amoníaco
  • Historically, gum ammoniac was valued for its expectorant properties in traditional medicines.

Examples

  • Traders imported gum ammoniac from the Middle East for use in varnishes and plasters.

  • The doctor prescribed a paste containing gum ammoniac for the skin condition.

  • The pharmacist recommended gum ammoniac for its medicinal properties.

  • Many herbalists use gum ammoniac in their remedies.

  • The doctor prescribed a paste containing gum ammoniac for the skin condition.

  • Historically, gum ammoniac was valued for its expectorant properties in traditional medicines.

  • Traders imported gum ammoniac from the Middle East for use in varnishes and plasters.

Synonyms

ammoniac
vsgum ammoniac
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A thick plant gum with a strong smell used in medicines and perfumes

is now used more broadly in medicine and industry rather than perfumery
gum resin
vsgum ammoniac
  • Specialized
6.1

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

is a specific fragrant resinous gum used in medicine and industry

Surface Forms

gum ammoniac singular
gum ammoniacs plural

Morphology

gum + ammoniac

This is a straightforward noun–noun compound where the head 'gum' (a resinous substance) is specified by 'ammoniac' (a particular fragrant plant resin), so the overall meaning — a gum/resin from the ammoniac plant — follows directly from the constituents. Although the term is somewhat technical and infrequent, a B1 learner who knows both words can reliably infer it denotes a specific type of gum.

Etymology

Gum ammoniac is a sticky plant resin; the name joins gum (sticky resin) and ammoniac, a word linked to the oasis and temple of the god Ammon, where traders once gathered this resin. That's why today gum ammoniac means the fragrant gum used in 'medicine' and in making varnish and plasters.