Meaning & use
a gum tree
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Meaning
nouncountableAustralian
A type of tree that produces a sticky substance called gum, especially eucalyptus trees in Australia.
Grammar: Countable; you can say 'a gum tree' or 'gum trees'.
Patterns
- climb a gum tree
- under a gum tree
- a gum tree forest
Koalas live in gum trees and eat their leaves.
The old gum tree stood at the edge of the field.
We sat under a gum tree to escape the sun.
Word forms
| plural | gum trees |
|---|
Common combinations
- climb a gum tree
- The children loved to climb the gum tree in the backyard.
- under a gum tree
- We had a picnic under a gum tree.
- a gum tree forest
- The national park is full of gum tree forests.
- up a gum tree
- He was up a gum tree when he lost his wallet.
Synonyms and how they differ
- eucalyptus
- The scientific and more general name for the tree; 'gum tree' is the common Australian term.
Commonly confused: a gum tree or gum?
a gum tree vs gum
Gum is the sticky substance from the tree, not the tree itself.
Practice
In Australian English, what is a gum tree?
Choose one answer.
In Australian English, a gum tree is a eucalyptus tree. The other options are incorrect: gum trees do not produce chewing gum, are not bushes with red flowers, and do not grow only in deserts.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “a gum tree”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.