gnome

[ nohm ]

See synonyms for gnome on Thesaurus.com

noun

(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.
an expert in monetary or financial affairs; international banker or financier: the gnomes of Zurich.

Origin of gnome

1705–15; from French from New Latin gnomus, perhaps from Greek gnṓmē; see gnome²

synonym study For gnome

1. See goblin, sylph.

Other words from gnome

gnomish, adjective

Other definitions for gnome (2 of 2)

gnome²

[ nohm, noh-mee ]

noun

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

Origin of gnome

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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use gnome in a sentence

In Greece, they sneak into homes to scare children, and in Scandinavia, the gnomes play pranks.
8 Facts You Never Knew About Christmas | Brandy Zadrozny | December 24, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
I would translate the title into: No Gnomes Are Going to Come.
Shani Boianjiu: How I Write | Noah Charney | July 10, 2013 | THE DAILY BEAST
At first she saw nothing but a vast host of gnomes perched on the walls and crowding on the floor of the big hall.
The Olive Fairy Book | Various
As the thunder dies away, the gnomes rush wildly toward the witch.
The Saxons | Edwin Davies Schoonmaker
Basing our computations upon data supplied by these statements, we find that the gnomes were probably extinct as early as 1764.
The Devil's Dictionary | Ambrose Bierce

Those were gnomes—the real spooky, spinky kind that give you the shivers up and down your back when they're out gnoming.
The Pony Rider Boys on the Blue Ridge | Frank Gee Patchin
But the Gnomes heard the Goblins talking about the party one night and they were very angry because they were not asked also.
Sandman's Goodnight Stories | Abbie Phillips Walker

British Dictionary definitions for gnome (1 of 2)

gnome¹

/ (nəʊm) /

noun

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
the statue of a gnome, esp in a garden

a very small or ugly person
facetious, or derogatory an international banker or financier (esp in the phrase gnomes of Zürich)

Origin of gnome

C18: from French, from New Latin gnomus, coined by Paracelsus, of obscure origin

Derived forms of gnome

gnomish, adjective

British Dictionary definitions for gnome (2 of 2)

gnome²

/ (nəʊm) /

noun

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

Origin of gnome

C16: from Greek gnōmē, from gignōskein to know

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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