gumming

gum ¹  (gm)

n.

1.

a. Any of various viscous substances that are exuded by certain plants and trees and dry into water-soluble, noncrystalline, brittle solids.

b. A similar plant exudate, such as a resin.

c. Any of various adhesives made from such exudates or other sticky substance.

2. A substance resembling the viscous substance exuded by certain plants, as in stickiness.

3.

a. Any of various trees of the genera Eucalyptus, Liquidambar, or Nyssa that are sources of gum. Also called gum tree.

b. The wood of such a tree; gumwood.

4. Chewing gum.

v. gummed, gum·ming, gums

v.tr.

To cover, smear, seal, fill, or fix in place with or as if with gum.

v.intr.

1. To exude or form gum.

2. To become sticky or clogged.

Phrasal Verb:

gum up

To ruin or bungle: gum up the works.

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[Middle English gomme, from Old French, from Late Latin gumma, variant of Latin gummi, cummi, from Greek kommi, perhaps from Egyptian mj-t.]

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gum ²  (gm)

n.

The firm connective tissue covered by mucous membrane that envelops the alveolar arches of the jaw and surrounds the bases of the teeth. Also called gingiva.

tr.v. gummed, gum·ming, gums

To chew (food) with toothless gums.

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[Middle English gome, from Old English gma, palate, jaw.]

Thesaurus

Noun

1.

gumming - ineffectual chewing (as if without teeth) mumbling chewing, mastication, chew, manduction - biting and grinding food in your mouth so it becomes soft enough to swallow