gumming

1. 1
   verb

   The -ing form of gum. Use it after am, is, are, was or were, or to name the action.

   The baby is gumming a soft piece of bread.

   She kept gumming the envelope until the flap finally stuck.

   Note
2. 2
   noununcountable

   Chewing food with the gums instead of teeth.

   Like squashing food with your bare gums instead of biting with teeth.

   The baby's gumming left the cracker soft and soggy.

   Without his dentures, his slow gumming made meals take forever.

   Similarchewing

   Note
3. 3
   noununcountable

   Sticking things down with gum, especially putting a gummy liquid on a printing stone.

   Like brushing glue on paper so things stick.

   The gumming of the labels held them firmly to the boxes.

   Careful gumming kept the stone ready for the next print.

   Similargluing

   Note
4. 4
   noununcountable

   A plant disease that makes trees ooze a sticky, gum-like fluid.

   Like sap leaking from a wound in a tree.

   Gumming had killed several of the orchard's cherry trees.

   The farmer noticed gumming on the trunk of the peach tree.

   Similargummosis

   Note
5. 5
   nounhistoricaluncountable

   In old mines, the hand removal of clay from coal that has been cut.

   Like scraping mud out of the way before you can use what's underneath.

   The boys earned a few pennies for the gumming each shift.

   Gumming was hard, dirty work deep in the pit.

   Note

Showing meanings only. Show all 5