- to cover, dab, or stiffen with gum
- informal to make a mess of; bungle (often in the phrase gum up the works)
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
gum up vb (transitive, adverb)
gum1 /gʌm/USA pronunciation
n., v., gummed, gum•ming.
n. [countable]
v.
gum2 /gʌm/USA pronunciation n.
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026n. [countable]
- a sticky substance that comes from plants and hardens when exposed to air.
- Printingmade from such a plant substance.
- chewing gum.
v.
- [~ + object] to smear, stiffen, or stick together with gum.
- to clog with or as if with a gummy substance:[~ (+ up) + object]The engine was gummed (up) and wouldn't start.
- gum up, [Slang.]to spoil or ruin: [~ + up + object]You've really gummed up the project with that blunder.[~ + object + up]You've gummed it up now.
gum2 /gʌm/USA pronunciation n.
- [countable]
- Anatomy, DentistryOften, gums. [plural] the firm, fleshy tissue covering the surfaces of the jaws and partly covering the bottom of the teeth.
gum1
(gum),USA pronunciation n., v., gummed, gum•ming.
n.
v.t.
v.i.
gum′less, adj.
gum′like′, adj.
gum2 (gum),USA pronunciation n., v., gummed, gum•ming.
n.
v.t.
gum3 (gum),USA pronunciation interj. by gum,
n.
- any of various viscid, amorphous exudations from plants, hardening on exposure to air and soluble in or forming a viscid mass with water.
- any of various similar exudations, as resin.
- Printinga preparation of such a substance, as for use in the arts or bookbinding.
- See chewing gum.
- mucilage;
glue. - rubber1 (def. 1).
- See gum tree.
- Stamps[Philately.]the adhesive by which a postage stamp is affixed. Cf. o.g. (def. 1).
- Informal Termsa rubber overshoe or boot.
v.t.
- to smear, stiffen, or stick together with gum.
- to clog with or as if with some gummy substance.
v.i.
- to exude or form gum.
- to become gummy.
- to become clogged with a gummy substance.
- gum up, [Slang.]to spoil or ruin.
- Idioms gum up the works. See work (def. 14).
- Greek kómmi
- Vulgar Latin *gumma, for Latin gummi, cummi
- Old French
- Middle English gomme 1350–1400
gum′like′, adj.
gum2 (gum),USA pronunciation n., v., gummed, gum•ming.
n.
- Anatomy, DentistryOften, gums. Also called gingiva. the firm, fleshy tissue covering the alveolar parts of either jaw and enveloping the necks of the teeth.
- beat one's gums, [Slang.]to talk excessively or ineffectively.
v.t.
- to masticate (food) with the gums instead of teeth.
- to shape or renew the teeth of (a saw), as by grinding.
- 1275–1325; Middle English gome, Old English gōma palate; akin to Old Norse gōmr, German Gaumen palate
gum3 (gum),USA pronunciation interj. by gum,
- Idioms(used as a mild oath).
- euphemism for God 1825–35
'gum up' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):