The act or process of chewing with the gums, or of applying gum to something; the present participle of 'gum.'
From the verb 'gum' plus '-ing,' the present participle and gerund suffix that turns verbs into nouns or describes ongoing actions. This suffix appears in nearly every English word ending in '-ing.'
Gumming is how babies and toothless people process food—they break it down using the muscular action of their gums and tongue, which is surprisingly effective and doesn't require teeth at all.
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