What does gum mean?
Gum is a versatile word whose best-known meaning is a sticky, chewy confection, often sweetened, flavored, and designed to be chewed. In a more technical sense, gum is a resinous substance produced by certain trees and used as an adhesive, thickener, or stabilizer; substances such as gum arabic are familiar examples. The plural 'gums' ordinarily names the firm tissue that surrounds the teeth, as in a reference to bleeding or sore gums. In Australian and New Zealand English, gum can also mean a eucalyptus tree. As a verb, gum means to fasten or obstruct something with a sticky material, particularly in the informal phrase 'gum up.' The word's range makes it useful in both everyday and technical writing: it can describe a familiar sweet, a plant product, a bodily structure, a regional tree name, and the act of making something stick or become difficult to operate.
A sticky, chewy substance, especially a flavored confection intended for chewing; a resinous plant exudate used as an adhesive or thickener; the tissue surrounding the teeth, usually in the plural 'gums'; or, regionally, a eucalyptus tree.
"The shop sells mint gum, fruit-flavored gum, and packets of powdered gum arabic."
The anatomical sense is normally plural. The tree sense is chiefly Australian and New Zealand English.
To fasten or obstruct something with gum or another sticky substance, especially by causing it to become stuck.
"Dust and old adhesive had gummed the machine shut."
The expression 'gum up' is informal and commonly means to obstruct or make difficult to operate.
The plural 'gums' is the standard form for the tissue surrounding the teeth; plural forms of the substance senses depend on context.
"Her gums were sore after the surgery."
Gum connects two very different worlds: the resin that plants produce and the chewy sweets that people produce from it.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does gum come from?
English gum comes through Middle English gumme, from Old French gumme, Latin gummi, and Greek gummi, a word for gum or plant resin. The ultimate origin of the Greek term is uncertain, so it cannot confidently be connected with a single earlier language. The confectionery sense developed later as plant materials such as chicle were processed into products intended for chewing.
Related word forms
How gum is actually used
For the anatomical tissue, 'gums' is the usual form. The verb 'gum up' is informal and means to make something difficult or impossible to move or operate. 'Gum' for a eucalyptus tree is chiefly regional to Australia and New Zealand.