cow gum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
LowInformal, mostly British historical/commercial
Quick answer
What does “cow gum” mean?
A type of rubber adhesive or adhesive putty used for temporary sticking, often pale yellow or white.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A type of rubber adhesive or adhesive putty used for temporary sticking, often pale yellow or white.
A removable adhesive, originally made from rubber latex, used in office, school, and craft contexts for sticking paper temporarily without causing damage.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
The term 'cow gum' is predominantly British, stemming from a UK brand. In American English, equivalent products are more commonly called 'adhesive putty', 'reusable adhesive', or by brand names like 'Fun-Tak' or 'Sticky Tack'.
Connotations
In the UK, it may evoke nostalgia for school or office use in the late 20th century. In the US, the term is largely unknown and sounds like a literal compound ('cow' + 'gum').
Frequency
Very rare in contemporary use in both varieties. The product still exists but is now marketed under different generic names.
Grammar
How to Use “cow gum” in a Sentence
[Subject] + stick/attach + [Object] + with cow gum[Subject] + use + cow gum + to + [Infinitive]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “cow gum” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- She decided to cow-gum the notice to the board.
- He was cow-gumming the pictures to his folder.
American English
- He tacked the poster up with adhesive putty.
- She used sticky tack to mount the photo.
adverb
British English
- He attached it cow-gummily, knowing it would come off later.
American English
- She stuck it temporarily with the putty.
adjective
British English
- The cow-gum residue was hard to remove.
- They used a cow-gum adhesive for the display.
American English
- The adhesive putty left a mark.
- It was a reusable adhesive solution.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Historical term for office supplies; rarely used in modern procurement.
Academic
Might appear in historical texts about stationery or design; not in academic discourse.
Everyday
Used casually by older generations in the UK to refer to a sticky, reusable adhesive for posters or paper.
Technical
A specific type of pressure-sensitive, removable rubber-based adhesive.
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “cow gum”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “cow gum”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “cow gum”
- Assuming it is edible or related to cattle.
- Using it as a permanent adhesive.
- Confusing it with PVA glue or other liquid adhesives.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The name comes from the brand 'Cow Gum' by Cow Gum Ltd. It is a rubber-based adhesive.
The original brand may be discontinued, but similar products (adhesive putty, reusable adhesive) are widely available.
They are similar in function (removable adhesive), but Blu-Tack is a later, different brand and product formula. Cow gum was typically pale yellow/white and rubber-based.
Very rarely. American English speakers are more likely to use terms like 'adhesive putty', 'sticky tack', or 'Fun-Tak'.
A type of rubber adhesive or adhesive putty used for temporary sticking, often pale yellow or white.
Cow gum is usually informal, mostly british historical/commercial in register.
Cow gum: in British English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊ ɡʌm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ˈkaʊ ɡʌm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “None”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a cow chewing gum that's sticky enough to hold a poster on the wall.
Conceptual Metaphor
ADHESIVE IS A PLIABLE SUBSTANCE (like chewing gum).
Practice
Quiz
What is 'cow gum' primarily used for?