# Gould

/ˈɡuɫd/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/gould
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. a surname

noun · CEFR B2

a common family name in English-speaking countries.

For teachers: a surname of English origin, notably associated with the Canadian pianist Glenn Gould and the ornithologist John Gould.

- The pianist Glenn Gould is famous for his recordings of Bach.
- Scholars often debate the eccentric performance habits of Glenn Gould, whose interpretations of the Goldberg Variations remains a cornerstone of classical discography.

## Examples

- The ancient chest was filled with gould coins.
- In the original 16th-century manuscript, the author describes the king's crown as being made of pure gould.
- Scholars of Early Modern English often encounter 'gould' in texts where spelling had not yet been standardised, reflecting the phonetic variations of the period.

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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.