goose
noun · verb
Simple meaning
A large water bird with a long neck, like a big duck.
Pronunciation
Say it like this:
goosIPA pronunciation (US)
ˈɡus
This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.
IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.
Definition
Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.
noun
Any of various grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae, which have feathers and webbed feet and are capable of flying, swimming, and walking on land, and which are generally bigger than ducks.
Web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks
Flesh of a goose (domestic or wild)
The flesh of the goose used as food.
strictly
A female goose.
verb
transitiveslang
To gently accelerate (an automobile or machine), or give repeated small taps on the accelerator.
transitiveslang
To stimulate; to spur.
transitiveslang
To hiss (a performer) off the stage.
Word at a Glance
- Difficulty
- B2 · Upper Intermediate (estimated)
- Frequency
- Moderately Common
- Formality
- Technical
Word Aura™
How this word commonly comes across.
Aura for this meaning
This meaning: Any of various grazing waterfowl of the family Anatidae, which have feathers and webbed feet and are capable of flying, swimming, and walking on land, and which are generally bigger than ducks.
Used this way, goose is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It turns up most in family or home contexts.
- Emotional tone
- Neutral
- Formality
- Neutral
- Intensity
- Not strongly marked
- How common
- Moderately common
- Connotation
- Matter-of-fact
- Usage feel
- Neutral and straightforward
Where it naturally appears
- Family/home
Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.
More ways to use goose
- “A large goose honked loudly while walking across the park.”
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Common Patterns and Combinations
How this word naturally appears with others.
Word Family
Related forms, grouped by how they connect.
Compound terms
Established multiword terms.
Annual having the stem beset with curved prickles.
Grease derived from geese.
Liver of a goose used as meat.
Reflex erection of hairs of the skin in response to cold or emotional stress or skin irritation.
Wild plum trees of eastern and central North America having red-orange fruit with yellow flesh.
Reflex erection of hairs of the skin in response to cold or emotional stress or skin irritation.
Related words
Connected by subject or meaning, not by word formation.
Something in a thin curved form (like the neck of a goose).
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Words can change meaning depending on context.
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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.