gum

name

Etymology: * As an English and German surname, variant of Gumm. * As a north/Low German surname, from Old Saxon gumo (“man”). * As a Chinese surname, Romanized from 甘 (gān) (Gan).

1. A surname.

noun

1. Initialism of genitourinary medicine.
2. Initialism of GUM (department store).

verb

Etymology: From Middle English gomme, gumme, borrowed from Anglo-Norman gome, from Late Latin gumma, from Latin cummi, gummi, from Ancient Greek κόμμι (kómmi), from Egyptian qmy (“anointing oil”), qmyt (“acanthus resin, gum”). Cognate with Spanish goma (“rubber”). Doublet of gumma.

1. To apply an adhesive or gum to; to make sticky by applying a sticky substance to.

   “However, Albert said in his audiotape and in his speech that a lever designed to release the lifeboat's block and tackle was gummed up with red paint.”

2. To stiffen with glue or gum.

   “He frets like a gummed velvet.”

3. To inelegantly attach into a sequence.

   “It consists in gumming together long strips of words [that] have already been set in order by someone else, and making the results presentable by sheer humbug.”

4. To impair the functioning of a thing or process.

   “That cheap oil will gum up the engine valves.”

   “The new editor can gum up your article with too many commas.”