English Reference
Noun

gourd

n.
C1 Advanced US /ˈɡɔɹd/ UK /ɡˈɔːd/ gourd UK spelling gourds

n.a large, hollow container made from a dried pumpkin or squash. You use it to hold things like seeds, water, or even as a musical instrument.

n.a dried, hollowed-out shell of a large, hard-skinned fruit, typically used as a container or a musical instrument. Often refers to the specific species Cucurbita pepo.


SIMPLE

He filled the gourd with dried beans for the winter.

CONTEXTUAL

The children used the gourd as a makeshift water bottle during their hike through the forest.

COMPLEX

In many traditional cultures, the gourd serves not only as a practical vessel for storage but also as a symbol of fertility and abundance.


From Middle English gourde, from Anglo-Norman gurde, gourde, from Latin cucurbita. Doublet of cucurbit.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Origin Latin cucurbita
Level C1 · Advanced
Frequency Occasional
Updated