Word Study
gum
CIDE DICTIONARY
gum, n. [OE. gome, AS. gama palate; akin Co G. gaumen, OHG. goumo, guomo, Icel. gmr, Sw. gom; cf. Gr. to gape.].
The dense tissues which invest the teeth, and cover the adjacent parts of the jaws. [1913 Webster]
gum, v. t.
To deepen and enlarge the spaces between the teeth of (a worn saw). See Gummer. [1913 Webster]
gum, n. [OE. gomme, gumme, F. gomme, L. gummi and commis, fr. Gr. , prob. from an Egyptian form kam; cf. It. gomma.].
- A vegetable secretion of many trees or plants that hardens when it exudes, but is soluble in water; as, gum arabic; gum tragacanth; the gum of the cherry tree. Also, with less propriety, exudations that are not soluble in water; as, gum copal and gum sandarac, which are really resins. [1913 Webster]
- A hive made of a section of a hollow gum tree; hence, any roughly made hive; also, a vessel or bin made of a hollow log. [1913 Webster]
- A rubber overshoe. [1913 Webster]
gum, v. t.
- To smear with gum; to close with gum; to unite or stiffen by gum or a gumlike substance; to make sticky with a gumlike substance. [1913 Webster]"He frets like a gummed velvet." [1913 Webster]
- To chew with the gums, rather than with the teeth. [PJC]
gum, v. i.
To exude or form gum; to become gummy. [1913 Webster]
OXFORD DICTIONARY
gum, n. & v.
--n.
1 a a viscous secretion of some trees and shrubs that hardens on drying but is soluble in water (cf. RESIN). b an adhesive substance made from this.
2 US chewing gum.
3 = GUMDROP.
4 = gum arabic.
5 = gum-tree.
6 a secretion collecting in the corner of the eye.
7 US = GUMBOOT.
--v. (gummed, gumming)
1 tr. smear or cover with gum.
2 tr. (usu. foll. by down, together, etc.) fasten with gum.
3 intr. exude gum.
--n.
1 a a viscous secretion of some trees and shrubs that hardens on drying but is soluble in water (cf. RESIN). b an adhesive substance made from this.
2 US chewing gum.
3 = GUMDROP.
4 = gum arabic.
5 = gum-tree.
6 a secretion collecting in the corner of the eye.
7 US = GUMBOOT.
--v. (gummed, gumming)
1 tr. smear or cover with gum.
2 tr. (usu. foll. by down, together, etc.) fasten with gum.
3 intr. exude gum.
Idiom
gum arabic a gum exuded by some kinds of acacia and used as glue and in incense. gum benjamin benzoin. gum dragon tragacanth. gum juniper sandarac. gum resin a vegetable secretion of resin mixed with gum, e.g. gamboge. gum-tree a tree exuding gum, esp. a eucalyptus. gum up
1 (of a mechanism etc.) become clogged or obstructed with stickiness.
2 colloq. interfere with the smooth running of (gum up the works). up a gum-tree colloq. in great difficulties.
1 (of a mechanism etc.) become clogged or obstructed with stickiness.
2 colloq. interfere with the smooth running of (gum up the works). up a gum-tree colloq. in great difficulties.
gum, n. (usu. in pl.) the firm flesh around the roots of the teeth.
Idiom
gum-shield a pad protecting a boxer's teeth and gums.
gum, n. colloq. (in oaths) God (by gum!).
Etymology
corrupt. of God
THESAURUS
gum
Lastex, acaroid resins, agglutinate, alveolar ridge, amber, baleen, battledore, bind, bite, bollix, braze, bridgework, bubble gum, cement, champ, chaw, chew, chew the cud, chew up, chewing gum, chicle, chicle gum, chomp, colophony, coumarone resins, crab, cramp, crimp, dental bridge, dentition, denture, elastic, elastomer, false teeth, fossil resins, foul up, fuse, glue, gnash, gnaw, grind, gum elastic, gum rosin, gum up, gums, handball, ivories, jumping jack, lac resins, louse up, masticate, mouth, mumble, munch, nibble, paste, periodontal tissue, pine resins, plastic, plate, queer, racket, resin, resina, resinate, resinoid, rosin, rubber, rubber ball, rubber band, ruminate, set of teeth, snafu, solder, spandex, spring, springboard, stick together, stretch fabric, synthetic resin, teeth, trampoline, uppers and lowers, vegetable resins, weld, whaleboneROGET THESAURUS
gum
Connection
N connection, vinculum, link, connective, connection, junction, bond of union, copula, hyphen, intermedium, bracket, bridge, stepping-stone, isthmus, bond, tendon, tendril, fiber, cord, cordage, riband, ribbon, rope, guy, cable, line, halser, hawser, painter, moorings, wire, chain, string, fastener, fastening, tie, ligament, ligature, strap, tackle, rigging, standing rigging, running rigging, traces, harness, yoke, band ribband, bandage, brace, roller, fillet, inkle, with, withe, withy, thong, braid, girder, tiebeam, girth, girdle, cestus, garter, halter, noose, lasso, surcingle, knot, running knot, cabestro, cinch, lariat, legadero, oxreim, suspenders, pin, corking pin, nail, brad, tack, skewer, staple, corrugated fastener, clamp, U-clamp, C-clamp, cramp, cramp iron, ratchet, detent, larigo, pawl, terret, treenail, screw, button, buckle, clasp, hasp, hinge, hank, catch, latch, bolt, latchet, tag, tooth, hook, hook and eye, lock, holdfast, padlock, rivet, anchor, grappling iron, trennel, stake, post, cement, glue, gum, paste, size, wafer, solder, lute, putty, birdlime, mortar, stucco, plaster, grout, viscum, shackle, rein, prop.Coherence
VB cohere, adhere, stick, cling, cleave, hold, take hold of, hold fast, close with, clasp, hug, grow together, hang together, twine round, stick like a leech, stick like wax, stick close, cling like ivy, cling like a bur, adhere like a remora, adhere like Dejanira's shirt, glue, agglutinate, conglutinate, cement, lute, paste, gum, solder, weld, cake, consolidate, agglomerate.Semiliquidity
N semiliquidity, stickiness, viscidity, viscosity, gummosity, glutinosity, mucosity, spissitude, crassitude, lentor, adhesiveness, inspissation, incrassation, thickening, jelly, mucilage, gelatin, gluten, carlock, fish glue, ichthyocol, ichthycolla, isinglass, mucus, phlegm, goo, pituite, lava, glair, starch, gluten, albumen, milk, cream, protein, treacle, gum, size, glue (tenacity), wax, beeswax, emulsion, soup, squash, mud, slush, slime, ooze, moisture, marsh, semifluid, semiliquid, tremellose, half melted, half frozen, milky, muddy, lacteal, lactean, lacteous, lactescent, lactiferous, emulsive, curdled, thick, succulent, uliginous, gelatinous, albuminous, mucilaginous, glutinous, glutenous, gelatin, mastic, amylaceous, ropy, clammy, clotted, viscid, viscous, sticky, tacky, gooey, slab, slabby, lentous, pituitous, mucid, muculent, mucous, gummy.Resin
N resin, rosin, gum, lac, sealing wax, amber, ambergris, bitumen, pitch, tar, asphalt, asphaltum, camphor, varnish, copal, mastic, magilp, lacquer, japan, artificial resin, polymer, ion-exchange resin, cation-exchange resin, anion exchange resin, water softener, Amberlite, Dowex, Diaion, resiny, resinous, bituminous, pitchy, tarry, asphaltic, asphaltite.Deception
VB deceive, take in, defraud, cheat, jockey, do, cozen, diddle, nab, chouse, play one false, bilk, cully, jilt, bite, pluck, swindle, victimize, abuse, mystify, blind one's eyes, blindfold, hoodwink, throw dust into the eyes, dupe, gull, hoax, fool, befool, bamboozle, flimflam, hornswoggle, trick, impose upon, practice upon, play upon, put upon, palm off on, palm upon, foist upon, snatch a verdict, bluff off, bluff, bunko, four flush, gum, spoof, stuff (a ballot box), circumvent, overreach, outreach, out wit, out maneuver, steal a march upon, give the go-by, to leave in the lurch decoy, waylay, lure, beguile, delude, inveigle, entrap, intrap, ensnare, nick, springe, set a trap, lay a trap, lay a snare for, bait the hook, forelay, spread the toils, lime, trapan, trepan, kidnap, let in, hook in, nousle, nousel, blind a trail, enmesh, immesh, shanghai, catch, catch in a trap, sniggle, entangle, illaqueate, hocus, escamoter, practice on one's credulity, hum, humbug, gammon, stuff up, sell, play a trick upon one, play a practical joke upon one, put something over on one, put one over on, balk, trip up, throw a tub to a whale, fool to the top of one's bent, send on a fool's errand, make game, make a fool of, make an April fool of, make an ass of, trifle with, cajole, flatter, come over, gild the pill, make things pleasant, divert, put a good face upon, dissemble, cog, cog the dice, load the dice, stack the deck, live by one's wits, play at hide and seek, obtain money under false pretenses, conjure, juggle, practice chicanery, deacon, play off, palm off, foist off, fob-off, lie, misinform, mislead, betray, be deceived.For further exploring for "gum" in Webster Dictionary Online