goose

[ goos ]

/ gus /

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See synonyms for: goose / geese / goosed / goosing on Thesaurus.com

noun, plural geese

[gees] /gis/ for 1, 2, 4, 8; goos·es for 5-7.

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.

the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male, or gander.

the flesh of a goose, used as food.

a silly or foolish person; simpleton.

Slang. a poke between the buttocks to startle.

Informal. anything that energizes, strengthens, or the like: to give the economy a badly needed goose.

a tailor's smoothing iron with a curved handle.

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 his or her throw.

verb (used with object), goosed, goos·ing.

Slang. to poke (a person) between the buttocks to startle.

Informal.

to prod or urge to action or an emotional reaction: The promise of time off may goose the workers and increase profits.
to strengthen or improve (often followed by up): Let's goose up the stew with some wine.
to increase; raise (often followed by up): to goose up government loans in weak industries.
to give a spurt of fuel to (a motor) to increase speed.

QUIZ

GOOSES. GEESES. I WANT THIS QUIZ ON PLURAL NOUNS!

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Question 1 of 9

Which of the following nouns has an irregular plural form?

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Idioms about goose

cook someone's goose, Informal. to ruin someone's hopes, plans, chances, etc.: His goose was cooked when they found the stolen gems in his pocket.

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

OTHER WORDS FROM goose

gooselike, adjective

Words nearby goose

goop, goopy, goorie, go or no-go, goosander, goose, goose barnacle, Goose Bay, gooseberry, gooseberry bush, gooseberry stone

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use goose in a sentence

Sandpipers, owls, loons, and geese all go through smaller migrations.
A peregrine falcon’s power to migrate may lie in its DNA|Philip Kiefer|March 4, 2021|Popular-Science
Under a giant oak tree, I conducted a phone interview without interruption from my office mates — shrieking kids and nasal-y geese.
Was a three-week trip to New Orleans for work or vacation? Both.|Andrea Sachs|February 19, 2021|Washington Post
It’s common to see dozens upon dozens of geese nesting on the side of parkways on Long Island.
Four wild animals that are thriving in cities|By Ryan Chelius/Outdoor Life|February 9, 2021|Popular-Science
Fact is, their goose was cooked by going for 2 at the end of the third quarter to turn down 5 into down 3.
The Packers Kicked A Field Goal, Josh Allen Had A Bad Day, And The GOAT And Baby GOAT Are Super Bowl-Bound|Sara Ziegler (sara.ziegler@fivethirtyeight.com)|January 25, 2021|FiveThirtyEight

Every year, millions of bar-headed geese migrate over the Himalayas and have been doing so for millions of years.
Why Birds Can Fly Over Mount Everest - Issue 94: Evolving|Walter Murch|December 30, 2020|Nautilus
We had a little goose that was laying golden eggs, and they told us to snip its head off.
David Lynch on Transcendental Meditation, ‘Twin Peaks,’ and Collaborating With Kanye West|Marlow Stern|October 6, 2014|DAILY BEAST
I wandered around aimlessly for a while, then gave the goose to an acquiescent hippy on a barge.
The Life and Art of Radical Provocateur—and Commune Leader—Otto Muehl|Anthony Haden-Guest|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One of the men was carrying a carving knife and a live goose.
The Life and Art of Radical Provocateur—and Commune Leader—Otto Muehl|Anthony Haden-Guest|September 22, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Finally, Cleese goose-steps out of the dining room as the hapless Germans cringe and sob.
Life Under Air Strikes: Children Under Fire Will Never Forget — or Forgive|Clive Irving|August 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Then, the big goose egg that the administration is going to get from Iran will more obviously be a zip.
Putin Poised to Retaliate Against Obama by Trashing Iran Deal|Josh Rogin|July 19, 2014|DAILY BEAST
To hear the creature talk about it makes my mouth as a brick kiln and my flesh as that of a goose.
The Joyous Adventures of Aristide Pujol|William J. Locke
The Kutchin make pretty pipe-stems out of goose-quills wound about with porcupine-quills.
Tobacco; Its History, Varieties, Culture, Manufacture and Commerce|E. R. Billings.
The universal desire was for mamma to see him, and when the time came, she owned that papa's swan had not turned out a goose.
The Daisy Chain|Charlotte Yonge
The declination axis is short, and is supported by a massive goose-neck bolted to the upper end of the polar axis.
Photographs of Nebul and Clusters|James Edward Keeler
Of waking dog, nor gaggling goose more waker then the hound.'
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer

British Dictionary definitions for goose (1 of 2)

goose¹

/ (ɡuːs) /

noun plural geese (ɡiːs)

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 migratorySee also brent goose, barnacle goose, greylag, snow goose Related adjective: anserine

the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (gander)

informal a silly person

plural gooses a pressing iron with a long curving handle, used esp by tailors

the flesh of the goose, used as food

all his geese are swans he constantly exaggerates the importance of a person or thing

cook someone's goose informal

to spoil someone's plans
to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc

kill the goose that lays the golden eggs to sacrifice future benefits for the sake of momentary present needsSee also golden goose

Word Origin for goose

Old English gōs; related to Old Norse gās, Old High German gans, Old Irish gēiss swan, Greek khēn, Sanskrit hainsas

British Dictionary definitions for goose (2 of 2)

goose²

/ (ɡuːs) slang /

verb

(tr) to prod (a person) playfully in the behind

noun plural gooses

a playful prod in the behind

Word Origin for goose

C19: from goose 1, probably from a comparison with the jabbing of a goose's bill

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

Cultural definitions for goose

goose

One's chances are ruined: “After the recent disclosures of foul play, political analysts feel that the candidate's goose is now thoroughly cooked.”

Other Idioms and Phrases with goose

goose

In addition to the idioms beginning with goose

goose egg
goose pimples

also see:

cook someone's goose
gone coon (goose)
kill the goose that laid the golden eggs
sauce for the goose
wild goose chase

goose

Idioms about goose

Origin of goose

OTHER WORDS FROM goose

Words nearby goose

Words related to goose

How to use goose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for goose (1 of 2)

Word Origin for goose

British Dictionary definitions for goose (2 of 2)

Word Origin for goose

Cultural definitions for goose

Other Idioms and Phrases with goose