a North American liquidambar tree, Liquidambar styraciflua, having prickly spherical fruit clusters and fragrant sap: the wood (called satin walnut) is used to make furniture
Compare sour gum
2.
the sap of this tree
Often shortened to: red gum
sweet gum in American English
US
1.
a large North American tree (Liquidambar styraciflua) of the witch hazel family, with alternate maplelike leaves, spiny fruit balls, and fragrant juice