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Gum vs. Mucilage — What's the Difference?

By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on October 16, 2023
Gum refers to the resinous substance from trees used in products or to chewable treats. Mucilage is a viscous, soluble fiber found in plants and used for storage or protection.
Gum vs. Mucilage — What's the Difference?

Difference Between Gum and Mucilage

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Key Differences

Gum is a versatile term in English. Most commonly, it can refer to a substance derived from trees, which has a range of commercial applications, from food to products like adhesives. Meanwhile, mucilage is specific to the world of botany and describes a sticky substance produced by nearly all plants and some microorganisms.
In everyday use, when people think of gum, they might envision the chewable treat that's enjoyed worldwide. This is quite different from mucilage, which isn't typically discussed in daily conversation, but is more of a concern to botanists or those in the food and drug industry due to its stabilizing and thickening properties.
Gum also has historical significance. For instance, gum arabic, derived from the sap of the acacia tree, has been used for centuries in food, medicine, and art. In contrast, mucilage, which is often extracted from seaweed or specific plants, has been utilized for its emulsifying properties in various industries.
One thing gum and mucilage have in common is their application in the food industry. While gum might be used as a direct ingredient in certain foods, mucilage is found in things like flax seeds and okra and is known for its potential health benefits when consumed.

Comparison Chart

Source

Trees and plants (resinous substance)
Nearly all plants (viscous fiber)
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Common Usage

Chewable treat, adhesives, art
Botany, food industry, medicine

Properties

Resinous, can be tacky
Sticky, gelatinous, soluble

Applications

Food, art, medicine
Stabilizing, thickening, emulsifying

Associated Terms

Gum arabic, gum tree
Plant mucilage, seaweed mucilage

Compare with Definitions

Gum

To smear or cover with gum.
He gummed the paper together.

Mucilage

An adhesive solution.
He used mucilage to paste the labels.

Gum

Any of various viscous substances that are exuded by certain plants and trees and dry into water-soluble, noncrystalline, brittle solids.

Mucilage

A thick, gluey substance produced by plants and microorganisms.
Okra releases mucilage when cooked, giving a slimy texture.

Gum

A similar plant exudate, such as a resin.

Mucilage

A viscous, soluble fiber in plants used for storage/protection.
The mucilage of the aloe plant has soothing properties.

Gum

Any of various adhesives made from such exudates or other sticky substance.

Mucilage

The sticky substance on the adhesive side of a stamp.
He licked the mucilage on the stamp before sticking it.

Gum

A substance resembling the viscous substance exuded by certain plants, as in stickiness.

Mucilage

A watery gel formed with water and a soluble substance.
The flax seeds formed a mucilage after soaking.

Gum

Any of various trees, especially of the genera Eucalyptus and Liquidambar, that are sources of gum. Also called gum tree.

Mucilage

Mucilage is a thick, gluey substance produced by nearly all plants and some microorganisms. These microorganisms include protists which use it for their locomotion.

Gum

The wood of such a tree; gumwood.

Mucilage

A viscous secretion or bodily fluid.

Gum

Chewing gum.

Mucilage

Any of various viscous, water-soluble polysaccharides produced by certain plants, algae, and microorganisms.

Gum

The firm connective tissue covered by mucous membrane that envelops the alveolar arches of the jaw and surrounds the bases of the teeth. Also called gingiva.

Mucilage

A sticky substance used as an adhesive.

Gum

To cover, smear, seal, fill, or fix in place with gum.

Mucilage

A thick gluey substance (gum) produced by many plants and some microorganisms.

Gum

To exude or form gum.

Mucilage

A gummy or gelatinous substance produced in certain plants by the action of water on the cell wall, as in the seeds of quinces, of flax, etc.

Gum

To become sticky or clogged.

Mucilage

An aqueous solution of gum, or of substances allied to it; a glue; a liquid adhesive; as, medicinal mucilage; mucilage for fastening envelopes.

Gum

To chew (food) with toothless gums.

Mucilage

A gelatinous substance secreted by plants

Gum

The flesh around the teeth.

Mucilage

Cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive

Gum

Any of various viscous or sticky substances that are exuded by certain plants.

Gum

Any viscous or sticky substance resembling those that are exuded by certain plants.

Gum

Chewing gum.

Gum

(countable) A single piece of chewing gum.
Do you have a gum to spare?

Gum

A gummi candy.

Gum

A hive made of a section of a hollow gum tree; hence, any roughly made hive.

Gum

A vessel or bin made from a hollow log.

Gum

A rubber overshoe.

Gum

A gum tree.

Gum

To chew, especially of a toothless person or animal.

Gum

(transitive) To deepen and enlarge the spaces between the teeth of (a worn saw), as with a gummer.

Gum

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

Gum

To stiffen with glue or gum.

Gum

To inelegantly attach into a sequence.

Gum

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.

Gum

The dense tissues which invest the teeth, and cover the adjacent parts of the jaws.

Gum

A vegetable secretion of many trees or plants that hardens when it exudes, but is soluble in water; as, gum arabic; gum tragacanth; the gum of the cherry tree. Also, with less propriety, exudations that are not soluble in water; as, gum copal and gum sandarac, which are really resins.

Gum

See Gum tree, below.

Gum

A hive made of a section of a hollow gum tree; hence, any roughly made hive; also, a vessel or bin made of a hollow log.

Gum

A rubber overshoe.

Gum

To deepen and enlarge the spaces between the teeth of (a worn saw). See Gummer.

Gum

To smear with gum; to close with gum; to unite or stiffen by gum or a gumlike substance; to make sticky with a gumlike substance.
He frets like a gummed velvet.

Gum

To chew with the gums, rather than with the teeth.

Gum

To exude or form gum; to become gummy.

Gum

A preparation (usually made of sweetened chicle) for chewing

Gum

The tissue (covered by mucous membrane) of the jaws that surrounds the bases of the teeth

Gum

Any of various substances (soluble in water) that exude from certain plants; they are gelatinous when moist but harden on drying

Gum

Cement consisting of a sticky substance that is used as an adhesive

Gum

Wood or lumber from any of various gum trees especially the sweet gum

Gum

Any of various trees of the genera Eucalyptus or Liquidambar or Nyssa that are sources of gum

Gum

Grind with the gums; chew without teeth and with great difficulty;
The old man had no teeth left and mumbled his food

Gum

Exude or form gum;
These trees gum in the Spring

Gum

A resinous substance from trees used in products.
The adhesive contains natural gum.

Gum

A chewable substance made from synthetic or natural resins.
I love the mint flavor of this gum.

Gum

The firm area around the base of a tooth.
He has inflamed gums.

Gum

To become clogged or choked up.
The machine will gum up if not cleaned.

Common Curiosities

Can gum be natural?

Yes, like gum arabic from acacia trees.

What is gum commonly used for?

Chewing and as a base for various products.

Where is mucilage typically found?

In nearly all plants and some microorganisms.

Are there synthetic gums?

Yes, many chewing gums use synthetic bases.

Why do plants produce mucilage?

For protection and storage.

Is mucilage consumable?

Yes, it's often found in foods like okra or flax seeds.

Can mucilage be used in medicines?

Yes, it's sometimes used for its emulsifying properties.

What are the properties of mucilage?

It's viscous, gelatinous, and soluble.

Is mucilage beneficial when consumed?

Yes, it's a soluble fiber known for potential health benefits.

Do gums have a role in oral health?

Yes, they surround and support teeth.

Is gum used in the art industry?

Yes, especially in traditional printmaking and painting.

How is gum derived from trees?

It's often extracted from the sap or bark.

What's a famous type of natural gum?

Gum arabic is a well-known type.

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Author Spotlight

Written by
Tayyaba Rehman
Tayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.

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