gum: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
A2 (common)Neutral to informal depending on sense. 'Gum' (anatomical) is formal/medical; 'chewing gum' is neutral/everyday; 'gum up' (verb) is informal.
Quick answer
What does “gum” mean?
The firm, fleshy tissue that surrounds the base of teeth.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
The firm, fleshy tissue that surrounds the base of teeth; a sticky substance derived from plants or used as an adhesive.
A sweet, chewy candy; in a broad sense, any viscous or sticky substance; in Australian/British informal use, to deceive or trick someone; as a verb, to clog or stick together.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
In UK English, 'gum' as a sweet is less common (prefer 'chewing gum'). The anatomical and adhesive/material senses are identical. The informal verb 'to gum' (to deceive) is primarily Australian/British.
Connotations
In US English, 'gum' readily evokes 'chewing gum'. In UK English, the anatomical sense may be slightly more primary.
Frequency
The noun 'gum' (anatomy/material) is equally frequent. The candy sense is significantly more frequent in US English.
Grammar
How to Use “gum” in a Sentence
gum something (up)gum togetherbe gummed (shut/together)have gum [anatomical]Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gum” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The dentist said my gums are in good shape.
- We used a natural gum to bind the mixture.
- He's always got a piece of chewing gum.
American English
- My gum is bleeding after flossing.
- Got any gum? I need something to chew.
- The old label was attached with some kind of gum.
verb
British English
- Don't pour that syrup down the sink—it'll gum up the pipes.
- The pages of the old book were gummed together.
American English
- The printer's rollers got all gummed up with ink.
- If you don't clean it, the residue will gum the mechanism shut.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except in specific industries (e.g., 'gum arabic as a food additive', 'gum base manufacturing').
Academic
Common in dentistry/medicine ('gingival gum'), biology ('plant gums'), and materials science.
Everyday
Very common for candy, dental health, and minor adhesive issues ('The mechanism is gummed up with dirt').
Technical
Precise in dentistry ('periodontal gum'), chemistry ('natural gum'), and printing ('gumming agent').
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gum”
- Incorrect: 'I have a pain in my tooth gum.' (Correct: '...in my gum.')
- Incorrect: 'This gum is flavourful.' (Ambiguous: Is it chewing gum or an adhesive?)
- Incorrect use of article: 'He gave me a gum.' (OK for candy, not for anatomical plural 'gums').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
It depends on the sense. The anatomical sense is usually plural ('gums') or uncountable ('gum tissue'). The adhesive/substance sense is uncountable. The candy sense can be countable ('a gum', 'two gums') or uncountable ('a piece of gum').
'Gum' often refers to natural, water-soluble adhesives (like from plants), while 'glue' is a broader term for any adhesive, often synthetic. 'Gum' can also be softer and less permanent.
It's a common shortening or synecdoche, where the material ('gum') stands for the product made from it ('chewing gum'). This clipped form is more standard in American than British English.
It's an idiom meaning to cause a process or system to stop working properly, usually by introducing complexity, obstruction, or confusion. It originates from machinery being jammed by sticky substances.
The firm, fleshy tissue that surrounds the base of teeth.
Gum is usually neutral to informal depending on sense. 'gum' (anatomical) is formal/medical; 'chewing gum' is neutral/everyday; 'gum up' (verb) is informal. in register.
Gum: in British English it is pronounced /ɡʌm/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡʌm/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “gum up the works”
- “by gum! (archaic/exclamatory)”
- “gum shoe (slang for detective)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GUM holds your teeth, GUM is sticky to eat (chewing gum), and GUM can make things stick.
Conceptual Metaphor
STICKINESS IS OBSTRUCTION / HEALTHY FOUNDATION (for gums as support for teeth).
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the word 'gum' LEAST likely to be used correctly?