gum
UK: ɡʌm | US: ɡʌm
n. a sticky substance exuded by some trees, used for adhesion
n. the firm connective tissue in the mouth that surrounds teeth (often plural: gums)
vt. to coat or stick with gum
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The word gum traces back to Old French gomme, derived from Latin gummi or cummi, which itself came from Greek kommi. The Greek term likely borrowed from Egyptian qmy.t (resin), reflecting ancient trade in plant-based adhesives. Over time, gum expanded semantically to include both botanical resins and oral anatomy, possibly due to the sticky texture shared by tree sap and mucous membranes.
She chewed a piece of gum to freshen her breath.
The artist used gum arabic to bind pigments in watercolor painting.
His gums bled after brushing too hard.
The machine gummed up due to excess adhesive.
Ancient Egyptians used gum for embalming and papermaking.