noun
gumball
guhm-bawl
noun
1
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."
2
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 notesIn 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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He put a coin in the machine and got a red _____.
Etymology
From "gum" (chewing gum) plus "ball," describing its round shape.