1. to remove gum or gummy substances from something, especially from textile fibers or silk
Usage: textile/manufacturing term; transitive verb

Examples

• The silk must be degummed before it can be dyed.
• Workers degum the raw fibers to prepare them for weaving.
• The degumming process removes natural oils and residues from the fabric.
• Degummed silk has a softer feel than untreated silk.