gummy

Everyday

1. Gummy means sticky like glue or gum. tree →
2. A gummy smile shows a lot of gum (the pink part above the teeth), and a gummy baby has no teeth yet. tree →
3. A gummy is a chewy sweet, like a gummy bear or gummy worm (US: gummies, also vitamins). tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life, gummy bears and gummy worms are sweets; dentists warn that sticky sweets stick to teeth and cause decay, so brush after. In science, «gummy» describes the texture of some materials, like tree sap. In stories, a «gummy grin» shows a baby or an old person without teeth. Phrases: «gummy bears», «gummy smile», «gummy vitamins».

Examples

• I had a bag of gummy bears at the cinema. tree →
• The baby gave a big gummy smile. tree →
• Grandad took his teeth out and grinned a gummy grin. tree →
• The glue went all gummy in the sun. tree →
• Gummy sweets stick to your teeth, so brush afterwards. tree →
• Mum takes gummy vitamins every morning. tree →

Note

Comparatives: gummier, gummiest. «Gummy» sweets in the US are often «gummies»; in the UK people also say «jelly sweets». Different from «gooey» (soft and sticky) and «chewy».