goose|ber|ry

goose|ber|ry
goose|ber|ry «GOOS BEHR ee, -buhr-; GOOZ-», noun, plural -ries.
1. a small, sour berry somewhat like a currant but larger. Gooseberries are used to make pies, tarts, or jam.
2. the thorny bush that it grows on. The gooseberry belongs to the saxifrage family and to the same genus as the currant.
3. Informal. a third person accompanying a couple.
╂[origin uncertain; probably < goose + berry]
Usage The traditional pronunciation «GOOZ buhr ih» is still almost universal in England but less common in the United States.

Useful english dictionary. 2012.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • goose·ber·ry — /ˈguːsˌberi, Brit ˈgʊzbri/ noun, pl ries [count] 1 : a small green berry that has a sour taste 2 Brit, informal : an extra person who is present when two other people (such as lovers) want to be alone together used especially in the phrase play… …   Useful english dictionary

  • goose — em·ber·goose; goose; goose·ber·ry; goose·gog; mon·goose; pea·goose; way·goose; wayz·goose; mun·goose; …   English syllables

  • GOOSE — The barburim avusim (AV, JPS fatted fowl ) included among the daily provision for Solomon s table (I Kings 5:3) have been identified with the goose, the word barbur being explained as derived from bar ( pure, white ), and avus ( fattened ). Some …   Encyclopedia of Judaism

  • em|ber|goose — «EHM buhr GOOS», noun, plural geese. the great northern diver, a loon that has a very loud call. ╂[< Norwegian emmergaas; influenced by goose] …   Useful english dictionary

  • Bernicle goose — Bernicle Ber ni*cle, n. [OE. bernak, bernacle; cf. OF. bernac; prob. fr. LL. bernacula for hibernicula, bernicula, fr. Hibernia; the birds coming from Hibernia or Ireland. Cf. 1st {Barnacle}.] A bernicle goose. [Written also {barnacle}.] [1913… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Ember-goose — Em ber goose , n. [Cf. Norw. embergaas, hav imber, hav immer, Icel. himbrin, himbrimi.] (Zo[ o]l.) The loon or great northern diver. See {Loon}. [Written also {emmer goose} and {imber goose}.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • emmer-goose — Ember goose Em ber goose , n. [Cf. Norw. embergaas, hav imber, hav immer, Icel. himbrin, himbrimi.] (Zo[ o]l.) The loon or great northern diver. See {Loon}. [Written also {emmer goose} and {imber goose}.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • imber-goose — Ember goose Em ber goose , n. [Cf. Norw. embergaas, hav imber, hav immer, Icel. himbrin, himbrimi.] (Zo[ o]l.) The loon or great northern diver. See {Loon}. [Written also {emmer goose} and {imber goose}.] [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • barnacle-goose — barˈnacle goose or berˈnicle goose noun A wild black and white goose of N Europe (Branta leucopsis), once believed to develop from a barnacle (the gooseˈ barˈnacle) that attaches itself, esp to floating wood, by a thick stalk • • • Main Entry:… …   Useful english dictionary

  • bernicle-goose — barˈnacle goose or berˈnicle goose noun A wild black and white goose of N Europe (Branta leucopsis), once believed to develop from a barnacle (the gooseˈ barˈnacle) that attaches itself, esp to floating wood, by a thick stalk • • • Main Entry:… …   Useful english dictionary

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