noun

gumball

guhm-bawl

Gumball (noun) means a round piece of chewing gum, often coated in a hard colored sugar shell. Example: “He put a coin in the machine and got a red gumball.”

noun

A round piece of chewing gum, often coated in a hard colored sugar shell.

"He put a coin in the machine and got a red gumball."

Informal term for the rotating light on top of a police car.

"The unmarked car had a gumball tucked in the glove box for emergencies."

How to use gumball

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA round ball of chewing gum, often sold from vending machines; also slang for a police car's flashing light.

Common pairings

gumball machine

Word forms

gumballs plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He put a coin in the machine and got a red _____.

Etymology

From "gum" (chewing gum) plus "ball," describing its round shape.

Frequently asked questions

What does “gumball” mean?

The word “gumball” means a round piece of chewing gum, often coated in a hard colored sugar shell. In plain terms, a round ball of chewing gum, often sold from vending machines; also slang for a police car's flashing light.

How do you pronounce “gumball”?

“Gumball” is pronounced guhm-bawl (/ɡʌmbɔl/ in IPA).

How do you use “gumball” in a sentence?

Here is “gumball” used in a sentence: “He put a coin in the machine and got a red gumball.”

What part of speech is “gumball”?

“Gumball” is a noun.

How many meanings does “gumball” have?

“Gumball” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a round piece of chewing gum, often coated in a hard colored sugar shell.