sweet gum

noun

a tall, aromatic tree, Liquidambar styraciflua, of the eastern U.S., having star-shaped leaves and fruits in rounded, burlike clusters.
the hard reddish-brown wood of this tree, used for making furniture.
the amber balsam exuded by this tree, used in the manufacture of perfumes and medicines.
Also called red gum (for defs 1, 2).

Origin of sweet gum

An Americanism dating back to 1690–1700

Words nearby sweet gum

sweet dreams, sweet fern, sweet flag, sweet gale, sweet grass, sweet gum, sweet marjoram, sweet marten, sweet mock orange, sweet nothings, sweet oil

Example sentences from the Web for sweet gum

British Dictionary definitions for sweet gum

sweet gum

noun

a North American liquidambar tree, Liquidambar styraciflua, having prickly spherical fruit clusters and fragrant sap: the wood (called satin walnut) is used to make furniture Compare sour gum
the sap of this tree
Often shortened to: red gum