CHUM (chummed, chumming)

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

Irregular inflected forms: chummed    , chumming   

 Dictionary entry overview: What does chum mean? 

• CHUM (noun)
  The noun CHUM has 3 senses:

1. a close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

2. bait consisting of chopped fish and fish oils that are dumped overboard to attract fish

3. a large Pacific salmon with small spots on its back; an important food fish

  Familiarity information: CHUM used as a noun is uncommon.

 Dictionary entry details 

• CHUM (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

A close friend who accompanies his buddies in their activities

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

brother; buddy; chum; crony; pal; sidekick

Hypernyms ("chum" is a kind of...):

friend (a person you know well and regard with affection and trust)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "chum"):

cobber (Australian term for a pal)

Derivation:

chummy ((used informally) associated on close terms)

chummy ((used colloquially) having the relationship of friends or pals)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Bait consisting of chopped fish and fish oils that are dumped overboard to attract fish

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("chum" is a kind of...):

bait; decoy; lure (something used to lure fish or other animals into danger so they can be trapped or killed)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A large Pacific salmon with small spots on its back; an important food fish

Classified under:

Nouns denoting animals

Synonyms:

chum; chum salmon; Oncorhynchus keta

Hypernyms ("chum" is a kind of...):

salmon (any of various large food and game fishes of northern waters; usually migrate from salt to fresh water to spawn)

Holonyms ("chum" is a member of...):

genus Oncorhynchus; Oncorhynchus (Pacific salmon including sockeye salmon; chinook salmon; chum salmon; coho salmon)

 Context examples 

No, sir, such a man will look after himself and will look after his chums.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

He never chummed with other dogs.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

The latter chummed with Norman, throwing Arthur and Martin into company with Ruth, for which Martin was duly grateful.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Thomas Mugridge was beside himself, a blithering imbecile, so pleased was he at chumming thus with the captain.

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)