Pronunciation: /ɡʌm ʌp/
noun a sticky substance used for chewing or sticking things together
A1 I accidentally stepped in gum up on the sidewalk.
A2 The gum up on the bottom of my shoe made a sticky mess.
B1 The gum up in the machinery caused it to malfunction.
B2 The technician had to clean out the gum up to fix the issue.
C1 The gum up in the engine was causing the car to overheat.
C2 The gum up in the pipes was a result of neglecting regular maintenance.
verb to block or obstruct by sticking or clogging
A1 I accidentally gummed up the lock with my chewing gum.
A2 The printer is gummed up with paper jam.
B1 The old pipes were gummed up with rust and debris.
B2 The gears in the machine are gummed up and need to be cleaned.
C1 The financial system was gummed up by bureaucratic red tape.
C2 The legal process was gummed up by endless delays and appeals.
formal The machinery can gum up if not properly maintained.
informal Don't let all that dirt gum up the gears.
slang I hate when my hair products gum up and make my hair sticky.
figurative His constant interruptions gum up the flow of the meeting.
gummed up
gum up
more gummed up
most gummed up
gums up
will gum up
has gummed up
is gumming up
gums up
gum up
to gum up
gumming up
gummed up