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loofah

[ loo-fuh ]
/ ˈlu fə /
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noun
Also called dish·cloth gourd [dish-klawth gawrd], /ˈdɪʃ klɔθ ˌgɔrd/, rag gourd [rag-gawrd]. /ˈræg ˌgɔrd/.
  1. any of several tropical vines of the genus Luffa, of the gourd family, bearing large, elongated fruit.
  2. the fruit of such a vine.
Also called veg·e·ta·ble sponge [vej-tuh-buhl spuhnj]. /ˈvɛdʒ tə bəl ˌspʌndʒ/. the dried, fibrous interior of this fruit, used as a sponge.
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Also loo·fa, luf·fa .

Origin of loofah

First recorded in 1860–65; from New Latin Luffa the genus, from Arabic lūf
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

British Dictionary definitions for loofah

loofah
/ (ˈluːfə) /
noun
the fibrous interior of the fruit of the dishcloth gourd, which is dried, bleached, and used as a bath sponge or for scrubbing
another name for dishcloth gourd
Also called (esp US): loofa, luffa

Word Origin for loofah

C19: from New Latin luffa, from Arabic lūf
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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