chicle
chicle Lexical Profile
chicle Game Scores & Validity
• noun
A natural, elastic milky latex obtained by tapping the bark of the sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota), historically and traditionally boiled down for use as the primary base in chewing gum.
"Before synthetic rubbers became widespread in the mid-twentieth century, commercial chewing gum was manufactured almost exclusively from harvested chicle."
The sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota), a long-lived evergreen tree native to southern Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean that yields both edible fruit and latex.
"Harvestersknown as chicleros make zig-zag incisions in the trunk of the chicle to collect its valuable resinous sap."
The sweet, brown-skinned, ovoid berry of the sapodilla tree (Manilkara zapota), featuring yellowish-brown, mildly grainy flesh with a malty, caramel-like flavor.
"At the local market in Yucatan, vendors sold ripe chicle alongside papayas and mangoes."
• Rhymes for chicle
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed via American Spanish chicle from Classical Nahuatl tzictli, meaning "sticky stuff" or "chewing gum," which was chewed by the Aztecs and Maya long before modern commercial chewing gum was developed.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.