gnome

¹ American  

[nohm] / noʊm /

noun

1. (in folklore) one of a species of diminutive beings, usually described as shriveled little old men, that inhabit the interior of the earth and act as guardians of its treasures; troll.

2. an expert in monetary or financial affairs; international banker or financier.

   the gnomes of Zurich.

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gnome ² American  

[nohm, noh-mee] / noʊm, ˈnoʊ mi /

noun

1. a short, pithy expression of a general truth; aphorism.

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gnome ¹ British  

/ nəʊm /

noun

1. one of a species of legendary creatures, usually resembling small misshapen old men, said to live in the depths of the earth and guard buried treasure

2. the statue of a gnome, esp in a garden

3. a very small or ugly person

4. facetious an international banker or financier (esp in the phrase gnomes of Zürich )

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gnome ² British  

/ nəʊm /

noun

1. a short pithy saying or maxim expressing a general truth or principle

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Related Words

See goblin, sylph.

Other Word Forms

• gnomish adjective

Etymology

Origin of gnome¹

1705–15; from French from New Latin gnomus, perhaps from Greek gnṓmē; gnome ²

Origin of gnome²

First recorded in 1570–80, gnome is from the Greek word gnṓmē judgment, opinion, purpose

Example Sentences

Goodman: I took a garden gnome from the kitchen.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 9, 2025

It is not known which area the gnome was recovered in, but the Dongemond Police covers the municipalities of Oosterhout, Geertruidenberg, Drimmelen and Altena.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

"In itself a strange place to keep your garden gnome," the force said.

From BBC • Nov. 22, 2024

“We’ll probably sell it,” Pam Threlkheld of Ninety Six, South Carolina, said after purchasing a gnome on Saturday.

From Seattle Times • Apr. 13, 2024

The gnome scurried away chanting, “Red for message! Red for message!”

From "Rump: The (Fairly) True Story of Rumpelstilskin" by Liesl Shurtliff

Related Words

• fairy