# chum

/ˈtʃəm/ (US) · /tʃˈʌm/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/chum
Updated: 2026-08-27

## Senses

### 1. a friend

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · British English

a close friend or pal.

For teachers: a close friend or companion. Often carries a slightly old-fashioned or British tone in modern usage.

- We have been best chums since we started primary school together.
- He spent the afternoon at the pub with a few old school chums, reminiscing about their university days.

### 2. fishing bait

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical · American English

a mixture of fish parts and blood thrown into the water to attract sharks or other big fish.

For teachers: chopped fish, blood, and other organic matter used as groundbait to attract predatory fish. Uncountable in this sense.

- The fishermen threw chum into the ocean to attract the sharks to the boat.
- The crew prepared a bucket of oily chum, hoping the scent would draw a great white shark toward the research vessel.

### 3. to attract fish

verb · CEFR C1 · Technical

to throw fish parts into the water to attract other fish.

For teachers: to scatter groundbait or fish offal on the surface of the water to attract prey.

- They spent the morning chumming the water, but no sharks appeared.
- After chumming the water for nearly two hours, the anglers finally spotted a dark shadow circling the stern.

### 4. to become friendly

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Informal

to become very friendly with someone, especially to get an advantage.

For teachers: to become friendly or intimate with someone, typically followed by 'up'.

- He tried to chum up with the boss to get a promotion.
- It was obvious she was trying to chum up with the committee members before the final vote was cast.

### 5. a type of salmon

noun · CEFR C2 · Technical

a specific type of large salmon found in the Pacific Ocean.

For teachers: a species of Pacific salmon (Oncorhynchus keta) also known as dog salmon.

- The bears waited by the river for the chum salmon to swim upstream.
- Chum salmon are often harvested for their large roe, which is highly valued in international seafood markets.

## Examples

- The fishermen caught several chum to use as bait.
- The aquarium staff added a school of chum to the tank to provide a natural food source for the larger predators.
- While the chum is not typically targeted by commercial fisheries, its high nutritional value makes it a vital component of the marine food web, supporting larger species like salmon and seabirds.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.