gum

Multiple Entries:
  gum    GUM  

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
gum1

▶noun

• 1 a viscous secretion of some trees and shrubs that hardens on drying but is soluble in water.

  ■ a sticky secretion collecting in the corner of the eye.

• 2 glue used for sticking paper or other light materials together.

• 3 chewing gum or bubble gum.

• 4 a gum tree, especially a eucalyptus.

• 5 North American term for gumboot.

▶verb (gums, gumming, gummed) cover or fasten with gum or glue.

■ (gum something up) clog up a mechanism and prevent it from working properly.

– origin ME: from OFr. gomme, based on L. gummi, from Gk kommi, from Egyptian kemai.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
gum2

▶noun the firm area of flesh around the roots of the teeth in the jaw. ▶verb (gums, gumming, gummed) N. Amer. chew with toothless gums.

– origin OE gōma ‘inside of the mouth or throat’, of Gmc origin.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
gum3

▶noun (in phr. by gum!) chiefly N. English an exclamation used for emphasis.

– origin C19: euphemistic alt. of God.

Concise Oxford English Dictionary © 2008 Oxford University Press:
GUM

▶abbreviation genito-urinary medicine.