definitions

loofah

[ loo-fuh ]
/ ˈlu fə /

noun

Also called dishcloth gourd, rag gourd.
  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 vegetable sponge. the dried, fibrous interior of this fruit, used as a sponge.

Nearby words

lonsdale belt, loo, loo mask, looby, loof, loofah, looie, look, look a gift horse in the mouth, look after, look alive
Also loo·fa, luffa.

Origin of loofah

1860–65; < New Latin Luffa the genus < Arabic lūf
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for loofa

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