noun
- A gummy substance obtained from the sapwood of the sapodilla tree, used as the main ingredient in chewing gum.
Usage: mass noun; often used in manufacturing
Examples
- Chicle was traditionally harvested from trees in Central America.
- Modern chewing gum often uses synthetic alternatives to natural chicle.
- The chicle industry was once a major source of income for workers in Mexico and Guatemala.
- Chicle gives chewing gum its characteristic texture and chewiness.
- Many vintage chewing gum brands relied on pure chicle as their primary ingredient.