The Collaborative International Dictionary
gum tree \gum" tree`\ n. Any tree that exudes a gum, such as:
The black gum ( Nyssa multiflora), one of the largest trees of the Southern States, bearing a small blue fruit, the favorite food of the opossum. Most of the large trees become hollow.
A tree of the genus Eucalyptus; a eucalypt. See Eucalpytus.
The sweet gum tree of the United States ( Liquidambar styraciflua), a large and beautiful tree with pointedly lobed leaves and woody burlike fruit. It exudes an aromatic terebinthine juice.
The sour gum tree.
Pepperidge \Pep"per*idge\, n. [Cf. NL. berberis, E. barberry.] (Bot.) A North American tree ( Nyssa multiflora) with very tough wood, handsome oval polished leaves, and very acid berries, -- the sour gum, or common tupelo. See Tupelo. [Written also piperidge and pipperidge.]
Pepperidge bush (Bot.), the barberry.
Tupelo \Tu"pe*lo\, n. [Tupelo, or tupebo, the native American Indian name.] (Bot.) A North American tree ( Nyssa multiflora) of the Dogwood family, having brilliant, glossy foliage and acid red berries. The wood is crossgrained and very difficult to split. Called also black gum, sour gum, and pepperidge.
Largo tupelo, or Tupelo gum (Bot.), an American tree ( Nyssa uniflora) with softer wood than the tupelo.
Sour tupelo (Bot.), the Ogeechee lime.