Transcription
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
- UK Pronunciation
- UK IPA
-
- [guhm-shoo]
- /ˈgʌmˌʃu/
- /ˈɡʌm.ʃuː/
-
- US Pronunciation
- US IPA
-
- [guhm-shoo]
- /ˈgʌmˌʃu/
Definitions of gumshoe word
- noun gumshoe Slang. a detective. 1
- noun gumshoe a shoe made of gum elastic or India rubber; rubber overshoe. 1
- noun gumshoe sneaker (def 1). 1
- verb without object gumshoe Slang. to work as a detective. to go softly, as if wearing rubber shoes; move or act snoopily or stealthily. 1
- noun gumshoe private investigator 1
- countable noun gumshoe A gumshoe is a detective. 0
Information block about the term
Origin of gumshoe
First appearance:
before 1860 One of the 29% newest English words
An Americanism dating back to 1860-65; gum1 + shoe
Historical Comparancy
Parts of speech for Gumshoe
noun
adjective
verb
adverb
pronoun
preposition
conjunction
determiner
exclamation
gumshoe popularity
A pretty common term. Usually people know it’s meaning, but prefer to use a more spread out synonym. About 54% of English native speakers know the meaning and use word.
This word is included in each student's vocabulary. Most likely there is at least one movie with this word in the title.
gumshoe usage trend in Literature
This diagram is provided by Google Ngram ViewerSynonyms for gumshoe
noun gumshoe
- sleuth — a detective. Synonyms: investigator, private investigator; private eye, gumshoe, shamus.
- cop — A cop is a policeman or policewoman.
- sneaker — a high or low shoe, usually of fabric such as canvas, with a rubber or synthetic sole.
- investigator — to examine, study, or inquire into systematically; search or examine into the particulars of; examine in detail.
- tec — detective.
verb gumshoe
- slink — to move or go in a furtive, abject manner, as from fear, cowardice, or shame.
- scrabble — to scratch or scrape, as with the claws or hands.
- lurk — lurking
- worm — Write-Once Read-Many
- lie in wait — to remain inactive or in a state of repose, as until something expected happens (often followed by for, till, or until): to wait for the bus to arrive.
Top questions with gumshoe
- what is a gumshoe?
- what does gumshoe mean?
See also
Matching words
- Words starting with g
- Words starting with gu
- Words starting with gum
- Words starting with gums
- Words starting with gumsh
- Words starting with gumsho
- Words starting with gumshoe