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.
"It led to a wild goose chase of trying to figure out where this contamination could possibly have come from, because we just knew this number was far too high to be correct," Clough said.
From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026
Killing the goose laying the golden egg happens often on Wall Street.
From MarketWatch • Mar. 23, 2026
On the heels of ABC recruiting two other Mormon Wives, Jen Affleck and Whitney Leavitt, to compete on “Dancing with the Stars,” sending one to goose “The Bachelorette”’s declining ratings made synergistic sense.
From Salon • Mar. 21, 2026
Nobody would ever give a damn about Cats in Hats or Green Eggs and Ham, and the world wouldn't have a golden goose - the madly magnificent Dr. Seuss.
From BBC • Mar. 2, 2026
The butler built a cozy bed that was just the right size and shape for the young goose.
From "The Wild Robot Escapes" by Peter Brown
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.
