gum arabic

noun

: a water-soluble gum obtained from several acacias (especially Senegalia senegal synonym Acacia senegal) and used especially in the manufacture of inks, adhesives, pharmaceuticals, and confections

Examples of gum arabic in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

That usually consists of starch, food coloring, and stabilizers and preservatives (look for words like maltodextrin, dextrose, and gum arabic). —Karen Yuan, Bon Appétit, 2 Dec. 2024

Rafael Martin/Europa Press/Abaca/Sipa USA/AP Their team mixed lavender oil into a warm solution of fibroin, a flexible protein made by silkworms, and gum arabic, a substance from acacia trees that helps stabilize materials. —Erika Page, The Christian Science Monitor, 4 Nov. 2024

Though Darfur and other non-urban parts of Sudan continue to be underserved and exploited for natural resources like gold and gum arabic, the RSF isn’t confronting an uprising there. —Ellen Ioanes, Vox, 22 Apr. 2024

Another popular theory has to do with the varnish: namely, that Stradivari used an ingenious cocktail of honey, egg whites, and gum arabic from sub-Saharan trees—or perhaps salts or other chemicals. —Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 3 Nov. 2022

Gum syrup is a simple syrup combined with gum arabic, a powder derived from the Acacia tree which gives a silky body to cocktails. —Jason O'Bryan, Robb Report, 8 Apr. 2021

After the mid-1800s, marshmallow manufactures replaced the sap ingredient with corn syrup or sugar, gelatin, gum arabic and other flavorings. —Devon Link, USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2021

The recipe’s key ingredient is gum Arabic, a thickening agent that somehow takes the rough edges off Peruvian brandy. —Gary Kamiya, SFChronicle.com, 27 Dec. 2019

The country is also the world’s biggest exporter of gum arabic, a sap that’s extracted from acacia trees and used in sodas and pharmaceuticals. —Washington Post, 8 July 2019

Word History

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

gum arabic

noun

: a gum that can be dissolved in water, is obtained from several acacias, and is used especially in making adhesives, drugs, and candy

Medical Definition

gum arabic

noun

gum ar·​a·​bic -ˈar-ə-bik 

: a water-soluble gum obtained from several leguminous plants of the genus Acacia (especially A. senegal and A. arabica) and used especially in pharmacy to suspend insoluble substances in water, to prepare emulsions, and to make pills and lozenges

called also acacia, gum acacia