Words / B1

CHOO-ingg-um/ˈtʃuːɪŋ ɡʌm/

Chewing gum (id: chewing-gum) is a sweet you chew for a long time but do not swallow (often uncountable). A mint can be swallowed; a sweet is wider. Exam halls: chewing gum is banned; a mint is not a substitute for the bin rule.

Meaning

A sweet you chew for a long time but do not swallow (often uncountable).

Examples

• “Chewing gum is banned in the exam hall; a mint is not a substitute for the bin rule.”
• “Chewing gum under a desk still fails a room inspection; that is a cleaning charge in halls.”

Good to know

chewing gum (often uncountable). a piece of gum. Contrast: a mint / a sweet. Exams / uniform. Mix-up: gum can also mean the flesh around the teeth (already a different sense).

Near in meaning

gum

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