1 chum | Definition of chum

chum

noun (1)
\ ˈchəm How to pronounce chum (audio) \

Definition of chum

 (Entry 1 of 5)

: a close friend : pal

chum

verb (1)
chummed; chumming

Definition of chum (Entry 2 of 5)

intransitive verb

1 : to room together
2a : to be a close friend
b : to show affable friendliness
c : to spend time with someone as a friend usually + around In the early '50s he entered Cornell University but quit after two years and lit out for Greenwich Village, where he studied drama and chummed around with James Dean.— William Plummer et al.

chum

noun (2)

Definition of chum (Entry 3 of 5)

: animal or vegetable matter (such as chopped fish or corn) thrown overboard to attract fish

chum

verb (2)
chummed; chumming

Definition of chum (Entry 4 of 5)

transitive verb

: to attract with chum

intransitive verb

: to throw chum overboard to attract fish

chum

noun (3)

Definition of chum (Entry 5 of 5)

Other Words from chum

Noun (1)

chumship \ ˈchəm-​ˌship How to pronounce chumship (audio) \ noun

First Known Use of chum

Noun (1)

1684, in the meaning defined above

Verb (1)

1730, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1857, in the meaning defined above

Verb (2)

1857, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Noun (3)

1902, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for chum

Noun (1)

perhaps by shortening & alteration from chamber fellow roommate

Noun (2)

origin unknown

Noun (3)

Chinook Jargon cəm spotted, striped, from Lower Chinook c̓ə́m variegated

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More Definitions for chum

chum

noun
\ ˈchəm How to pronounce chum (audio) \

Kids Definition of chum

 (Entry 1 of 2)

: a close friend : pal

chum

verb
chummed; chumming

Kids Definition of chum (Entry 2 of 2)

: to spend time with as a friend She likes to chum around with older students.

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More from Merriam-Webster on chum

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with chum

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for chum

Spanish Central: Translation of chum

Nglish: Translation of chum for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of chum for Arabic Speakers