goldilocks

[gohl-dee-loks]

noun

plural

goldilocks 

1. (used with a singular verb),  a person with golden hair.

adjective

1. (usually initial capital letter),  not being extreme or not varying drastically between extremes, especially between hot and cold.

   a Goldilocks economy that is neither overheated nor too cold to cause a recession;

   a goldilocks planet such as Earth.

goldilocks

/ ˈɡəʊldɪˌlɒks /

noun

1. a Eurasian plant, Aster linosyris (or Linosyris vulgaris ), with clusters of small yellow flowers: family Asteraceae (composites)

2. a Eurasian ranunculaceous woodland plant, Ranunculus auricomus, with yellow flowers See also buttercup

3. (sometimes capital) a person, esp a girl, with light blond hair

4. (modifier; sometimes capital) not prone to extremes of temperature, volatility, etc

   a goldilocks planet

   a goldilocks economy

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldilocks¹

1540–50; obsolete goldy golden + lock ² + -s ³; from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears , in which the golden-haired Goldilocks rejects uncomfortable extremes, as porridge that is too hot or too cold

Word History and Origins

Origin of goldilocks¹

(for sense 4): C20: from the fairy tale Goldilocks and the Three Bears , in which the heroine prefers the porridge that is neither too hot nor too cold