gourd

noun

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\ ˈgȯrd

, ˈgu̇rd

Definition of gourd

1 : any of a family (Cucurbitaceae, the gourd family) of chiefly herbaceous tendril-bearing vines including the cucumber, melon, squash, and pumpkin

2 : the fruit of a gourd : pepo especially : any of various hard-rinded inedible fruits of plants of two genera (Lagenaria and Cucurbita) often used for ornament or for vessels and utensils Walking through the various barrios, you might see people sharing sips from a little gourd with a straw in it. — Bruce Sanderson … a basketball-size gourd draped with a veil of wooden beads—to incite individual bursts of improvisation from the orchestra's players. — The New Yorker

out of one's gourd

US, informal

1 or less commonly off one's gourd : out of one's mind : crazy … comes off like a cross between two Hogans, the Aussie actor Paul and the American wrestler Hulk—completely out of his gourd, but essentially likable. — People Weekly … these people are loud, abusive, occasionally maniacal, often colossally boorish and notoriously primed under certain circumstances to go totally off their gourds.— Curry Kirkpatrick

2 —used as an intensivewas frightened out of her gourd [=extremely frightened]It's eleven against two, and the two are probably stoned out of their gourds.— Stephen KingPerhaps it is not too late for American kids to be given the gift of enforced boredom for at least a week or two, staring into space, bored out of their gourds, exploring the inside of their own heads.— Anna Quindlen

Examples of gourd in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web The roster isn’t perfect, and the defense Sunday too often looked like Garrett, Ward and nine guys who couldn’t tackle a gourd. — Doug Lesmerises, cleveland, "The Cleveland Browns saved Baker Mayfield, and then saved a game that may change them," 25 Oct. 2020 Each participant is also given an ornamental gourd and feed to feed the farm animals. — Katie V. Jones, baltimoresun.com, "Halloween planners in Howard County work to organize spooky but safe fun amid coronavirus pandemic," 16 Oct. 2020 First responders in north-central Florida discovered an explosive pumpkin behind a local business, and the bomb squad came out to detonate the gourd. — Garfield Hylton, orlandosentinel.com, "Bomb squad blows up pumpkin filled with explosives found near Florida business," 15 Oct. 2020 Trinity Falls in McKinney is hosting a drive-through pumpkin patch Saturday, allowing visitors to get their gourd without putting anyone’s health at risk during the COVID-19 pandemic. — Jon Arnold, Dallas News, "At this drive-through pumpkin patch in McKinney, you can celebrate the season safely," 7 Oct. 2020 Savor Beauty taps the gourd’s brightening benefits to deliver a natural face oil suited to even the most sensitive of skins. — Zoe Ruffner, Vogue, "9 Pumpkin Skin-Care Products for Bright, Glowing Skin This Fall and Beyond," 2 Oct. 2020 The hefty gourd was grown by local farmer Mohamed Sadiq. — From Usa Today Network And Wire Reports, USA TODAY, "Tribal voting, third wave, Washington Monument: News from around our 50 states," 30 Sep. 2020 Carve out the gourd of your choice, fill it with fall blooms, and add grapevine for even more charm. — Shelby Deering, Better Homes & Gardens, "12 Festive Ways to Feature Fall Pumpkin Decor in Your Home," 10 Sep. 2020 But this gourd is great for so much more: hearty salads, sheet roasts, dips, curries, pastas, and sweet treats. — Alexa Tucker, SELF, "33 Butternut Squash Recipes That Taste Like Fall," 18 Sep. 2020

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'gourd.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Last Updated

8 Nov 2020

Cite this Entry

“Gourd.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/gourd. Accessed 15 Dec. 2020.

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More Definitions for gourd

gourd

noun

English Language Learners Definition of gourd

: any one of several types of fruits that have a hard shell and that are used for decoration and not for eating

See the full definition for gourd in the English Language Learners Dictionary

gourd

noun

\ ˈgȯrd

Kids Definition of gourd

: an inedible fruit with a hard rind and many seeds that grows on a vine, is related to the pumpkin and melon, and is often used for decoration or for making objects (as bowls)