loofah

noun

loo·​fah ˈlü-fə How to pronounce loofah (audio)
variants or luffa
1
: any of a genus (Luffa) of Old World tropical plants of the gourd family with white to yellow flowers and large usually elongate fruits that are sometimes eaten as vegetables when immature
also : the fruit of a loofah
2
: a sponge consisting of the fibrous interior of the mature dried fruit of a loofah (especially Luffa aegyptiaca synonym L. cylindrica)

Examples of loofah in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Break up with your loofah and grab the sonic-powered PMD Clean Pro. Anamaria Glavan, Allure, 26 Nov. 2023 The shelves are generously spaced to fit tall bottles, and there’s also a razor holder with hooks for loofah storage. Nicole Pyles, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2023 These include: Luffa (or loofah), also known as sponge gourd or rag gourd Calabash, also known as bottle gourd Cushaw squash, also known as silver-seed gourd Blue hubbard squash Turban squash, also known as French turban These gourds are tasty and easy to cut into. Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 5 Oct. 2023 A bit more painful than scrubbing down with a loofah. Nick Canepa Columnist, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Mar. 2022 If left to mature, you'll be rewarded with a loofah sponge or natural dish scrubber. Rita Pelczar, Better Homes & Gardens, 8 Sep. 2023 Do not scrub or vigorously rub your skin with a loofah or washcloth. Gabrielle Kassel, Health, 25 Aug. 2023 These spa-worthy, TikTok-famous minimalist gold hooks are perfect for keeping your loofah, robe, and towel within reach without cramping your style. Stephanie Montes, Travel + Leisure, 20 June 2023 Sisters Monica and Aidee San Miguel remember how their grandma used to carry a big loofah sponge on back-and-forth trips between Chicago and Mexico. Nell Salzman, Chicago Tribune, 22 Apr. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'loofah.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

New Latin luffa, from Arabic lūf

First Known Use

1887, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of loofah was in 1887

Dictionary Entries Near loofah

Cite this Entry

“Loofah.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/loofah. Accessed 4 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

loofah

noun
loof·​ah
variants also luffa
ˈlü-fə
: any of various Old World tropical plants of the gourd family with large fruits
also : a sponge consisting of the fiber-containing skeleton of its fruit
Etymology

derived from Arabic lūf "loofah"

More from Merriam-Webster on loofah

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