goose

1 of 2

noun

ˈgüs 

plural geese ˈgēs 

1

a

: any of numerous large waterfowl (family Anatidae) that are intermediate between the swans and ducks and have long necks, feathered lores, and reticulate tarsi

b

: a female goose as distinguished from a gander

2

: simpleton, dolt

3

plural gooses : a tailor's smoothing iron with a gooseneck handle

4

plural gooses : a poke between the buttocks

goose

2 of 2

verb

goosed; goosing

transitive verb

1

: to poke between the buttocks with an upward thrust

2

: to increase the activity, speed, power, intensity, or amount of : spur

an effort to goose newsstand sales

Synonyms

Noun

• fool
• lunatic [informal]
• turkey
• maniac [informal]
• idiot
• nut
• moron
• cuckoo

Examples of goose in a Sentence

Noun

don't be such a silly goose—you're dressed just fine for the party

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Our friends came over to hang out and the goose attacked. —Harpers Magazine, 18 June 2025

The goose wore a harness and leash with a small purple bow tie on the front. —Molly Gibbs, Sacbee.com, 15 June 2025

Verb

But Pavement remade it in their own gloriously ramshackle way, goosing it with new melodies and rowdy band interaction. —Rob Sheffield, Rolling Stone, 14 June 2025

And that begs the question: What was the point of Trump’s tariff comings and goings, beyond goosing sales of antacids? —The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English gos, from Old English gōs; akin to Old High German gans goose, Latin anser, Greek chēn

First Known Use

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

circa 1880, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing goose

• barnacle goose
• brent goose
• Canada goose
• cook one's goose
• cook someone's goose
• goose bumps
• goose egg
• goose pimples
• goose step
• Hawaiian goose
• kill the golden goose
• snow goose
• the golden goose
• the goose that lays the golden egg
• Their goose was cooked
• what's good for the goose is good for the gander
• what's sauce for the goose is sauce for the gander
• wild goose chase

Rhymes for goose

• coos
• cruce
• deuce
• douce
• duce
• hoose
• juice
• loose
• mousse
• noose
• nous
• sluice

Kids Definition

goose

noun

ˈgüs

plural geese

ˈgēs

1

a

: any of numerous birds with long necks that are larger than the related ducks and smaller than swans

b

: a female goose in contrast to a gander

2

: a person lacking in common sense

3

plural gooses : an iron with a gooseneck handle used by tailors for smoothing clothes