Gum
/ɡʌm/
Definitions
4 meaningsThe firm, fleshy tissue that surrounds the teeth and covers the jaw.
/ɡʌm/
The fleshy tissue around the teeth.
Brushing and flossing help keep your gums healthy.
💡 Simply: Your gums are like the cozy beds that your teeth sit in. They're the pink, soft part around your teeth, and they help keep them safe and strong. If you brush your teeth, you're also taking care of your gums!
👶 For kids: The pink stuff in your mouth that holds your teeth.
More Examples
The dentist warned me about gum disease.
My gums bled slightly when I brushed my teeth.
How It's Used
"The dentist checked the health of my gums."
"Inflammation of the gums can cause bleeding."
A sticky substance that is exuded by certain trees or plants, often used as an adhesive or in food.
/ɡʌm/
A sticky substance from certain trees.
Chewing gum is made from a synthetic gum base.
💡 Simply: Imagine a tree that gets a boo-boo, and the sticky stuff that comes out is called gum. People sometimes use this sticky gum to make things stick together!
👶 For kids: Sticky stuff that comes from some trees.
More Examples
Gum arabic is a common ingredient in candies.
He carefully removed the gum from his shoe.
How It's Used
"Gum arabic is used in food and pharmaceuticals."
"The adhesive on the envelope was a type of gum."
A sweet, flavored substance that is chewed but not swallowed.
/ɡʌm/
Chewing gum.
He likes to chew gum to keep his mouth busy.
💡 Simply: Gum is a yummy treat you can chew on to make your breath smell nice or to keep your mouth busy! You don't swallow it, you just keep chewing and chewing.
👶 For kids: A chewy candy you put in your mouth.
More Examples
The store sells a variety of chewing gums.
She politely offered me a piece of gum.
How It's Used
"She popped a piece of gum in her mouth."
"Do you have any gum?"
To apply gum (an adhesive) to something.
/ɡʌm/
To cover or smear with gum (adhesive).
He carefully gummed the edges of the photograph to the scrapbook page.
💡 Simply: If you 'gum' something, you're basically using glue or a sticky substance to make it stick together. Like when you seal an envelope!
👶 For kids: To stick something with sticky stuff.
More Examples
The artist gummed the paper to the canvas for the collage.
She needed to gum the torn piece of paper.
How It's Used
"He gummed the envelope shut."
Idioms & expressions
gum up the works
To cause a process or system to fail or malfunction.
"The new regulations are gumming up the works and delaying the project."
From Middle English gomme, from Old French gomme, from Late Latin gummi, from Greek kommi, from Egyptian qmy (resin).
The word 'gum' has been used in English for a long time, with early references dating back to the Middle Ages, initially referring to resinous substances.
Memory tip
Think of the 'gum' as the pink border holding your teeth in place, like a frame.