gum
2
[ guhm ]
/ gʌm /
noun
Often gums. Also called gingiva.
the firm, fleshy tissue covering the alveolar parts of either jaw and enveloping the necks of the teeth.
verb (used with object), gummed, gum·ming.
to masticate (food) with the gums instead of teeth.
to shape or renew the teeth of (a saw), as by grinding.
Idioms for gum
beat one's gums, Slang.
to talk excessively or ineffectively.
Origin of gum
2
1275–1325; Middle English
gome, Old English
gōma palate; akin to Old Norse
gōmr, German
Gaumen palate
Words nearby gum
gully,
gullywasher,
gulosity,
gulp,
gulper eel,
gum,
gum accroides,
gum ammoniac,
gum arabic,
gum band,
gum benzoin
British Dictionary definitions for beat one's gums (1 of 4)
GUM
abbreviation for
genitourinary medicine
British Dictionary definitions for beat one's gums (2 of 4)
gum
1
/ (ɡʌm) /
noun
verb gums, gumming or gummed
See also
gum up
Derived forms of gum
gumless, adjective gumlike, adjectiveWord Origin for gum
C14: from Old French
gomme, from Latin
gummi, from Greek
kommi, from Egyptian
kemai
British Dictionary definitions for beat one's gums (3 of 4)
gum
2
/ (ɡʌm) /
noun
the fleshy tissue that covers the jawbones around the bases of the teeth
Technical name: gingiva Related adjective: gingival
Word Origin for gum
Old English
gōma jaw; related to Old Norse
gōmr, Middle High German
gūme, Lithuanian
gomurīs
British Dictionary definitions for beat one's gums (4 of 4)
gum
3
/ (ɡʌm) /
noun
used in the mild oath by gum!
Word Origin for gum
C19: euphemism for
God
Scientific definitions for beat one's gums (1 of 2)
gum
1
[ gŭm ]
Any of various sticky substances that are produced by certain plants and trees and dry into brittle solids soluble in water. Gums typically are colloidal mixtures of polysaccharides and mineral salts.
Scientific definitions for beat one's gums (2 of 2)
gum
2
[ gŭm ]
See gingiva.