1. (n.)sweet gum a tall, aromatic tree, Liquidambarstyraciflua, of the witch hazel family, native to the eastern U.S., with star-shaped leaves and fruits in rounded, burlike clusters.
2. sweet gum the hard reddish brown wood of this tree, used for making furniture.
3. sweet gum the amber balsam exuded by this tree, used in perfumes and medicines.
Etymology: (1690–1700, Amer.)
Definition of 'sweet gum'
Princeton's WordNet
1. (noun)sweet gum, satin walnut, hazelwood, red gum reddish-brownwood and lumber from heartwood of the sweet gum tree used to make furniture
2. (noun)sweet gum, liquidambar aromatic exudate from the sweet gum tree
3. (noun)sweet gum, sweet gum tree, bilsted, red gum, American sweet gum, Liquidambar styraciflua a North American tree of the genusLiquidambar having prickly spherical fruit clusters and fragrant sap
Definitions of sweet gum 
