goose
Americannoun
plural
geese, gooses-
any of numerous wild or domesticated, web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, especially of the genera Anser and Branta, most of which are larger and have a longer neck and legs than the ducks.
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a female bird of the family Anatidae, especially of genera Anser and Branta, as distinguished from the male, or gander.
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the flesh of a bird of the family Anatidae, especially of genera Anser and Branta, used as food.
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a silly or foolish person; simpleton.
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Slang. a poke between the buttocks to startle.
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Informal. anything that energizes, strengthens, or the like.
to give the economy a badly needed goose.
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a tailor's smoothing iron with a curved handle.
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an obsolete board game played with dice and counters in which a player whose cast falls in a square containing the picture of a goose is allowed to advance double the number of their throw.
verb (used with object)
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Slang. to poke (a person) between the buttocks to startle.
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Informal.
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to prod or urge to action or an emotional reaction.
The promise of time off may goose the workers and increase profits.
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to strengthen or improve (often followed byup ).
Let's goose up the stew with some wine.
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to increase; raise (often followed byup ).
to goose up government loans in weak industries.
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to give a spurt of fuel to (a motor) to increase speed.
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idioms
noun
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any of various web-footed long-necked birds of the family Anatidae: order Anseriformes. They are typically larger and less aquatic than ducks and are gregarious and migratory See also brent goose barnacle goose greylag snow goose
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the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (gander)
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informal a silly person
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a pressing iron with a long curving handle, used esp by tailors
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the flesh of the goose, used as food
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he constantly exaggerates the importance of a person or thing
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informal
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to spoil someone's plans
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to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc
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to sacrifice future benefits for the sake of momentary present needs See also golden goose
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
- gooselike adjective
Etymology
Origin of goose
First recorded before 1000; Middle English gose, goos, Old English gōs (plural gēs ); cognate with German Gans, Old Norse gās; compare Sanskrit haṅsa, Greek chḗn, Latin ānser
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
But Google also had to find a way to keep generative AI from killing its golden goose—its 90% share of the web search market, the foundation of its advertising business.
But it didn’t make up for what had been a rough season that contained at least two goose eggs on the scoreboard.
From Los Angeles Times
“Despite the state’s national reputation as ‘Scandinavia by the Sea,’ there remains a strong anti-tax impulse among voters who often reject tax increases and are loath to kill the state’s golden goose of tech entrepreneurship.”
From Los Angeles Times
The firm believes the Cybercab, which is slated to enter production in early 2026, will be “the golden goose” for the company and could drive Tesla to a $2 trillion market capitalization next year.
From Barron's
"I got goose bumps when I first read the script," the British actress tells the BBC, adding she had five auditions for the role.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
