Gŭm1, n.
n. [A-S. gōma, palate, D. & Sw. gom, Icel. gómr, Dan. gane, O. H. Ger. giumo, goumo, N. H. Ger. gaum, gaumen.] The hard, fleshy substance covering the jaws and investing the teeth.
3 entries under this word
Gum
Gŭm2, n.
n. [A-S. gôma, Pr. & Sp. goma, It. & Pg. gomma, Fr. gomme, D. gom, Ger. gummi, Lat. gummi and commis, Gr. κῶμι; Russ. kamedj, from Gr. κομμίον, diminutive of κόμμι.]
- A vegetable secretion in the juices of many plants that hardens when it exudes, but is soluble in water; as, gum arabic; gum tragacanth; the gum of the cherry-tree. Also, with less propriety, exudations that are not soluble in water; as, gum copal and gum sandarach, which are resins.
- (Bot.) A tree of the genus Nyssa;—called also black gum and sour gum.
Gum arabic, a gum which flows from trees of several species of the genus Acacia, found in Africa and the south of Asia.—Gum elastic, or elastic gum, caoutchouc or India rubber, the white juice of a tropical tree (the Siphonia elastica), which, when dry, becomes very tough and elastic.—Gum juniper, a gum resin occurring in the form of whitish tears, obtained from the Juniperus communis.—Gum lac. See LAC.—Gum senegal, a gum resembling gum arabic, brought from near the River Senegal, in Africa.—Gum tragacanth. See TRAGACANTH.
Gŭm3, v. t.
v. t. [imp. & p. p. GUMMED; p. pr. & vb. n. GUMMING.] To smear with gum; to close with gum; to unite or stiffen by gum or gum-like substance.
He frets like a gummed velvet. Shak.