gooseberry
1 synonym for gooseberry, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Noun — A small, tart, round green (or sometimes red) berry that grows on a spiny shrub, used in pies, jams, and fools.
Synonyms
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
gooseberry bush
How to use gooseberry
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
gooseberry jam
play gooseberry
The 'unwanted third wheel' sense is chiefly British and informal.
Etymology
"Goose" plus "berry," though the connection to actual geese is unclear — some scholars think the first part was originally a different word, twisted over time by folk etymology into "goose."
Full origin of gooseberry →Frequently asked questions
What does “gooseberry” mean?
The word “gooseberry” means a small, tart, round green (or sometimes red) berry that grows on a spiny shrub, used in pies, jams, and fools. In plain terms, a tart British hedgerow fruit, and separately, British slang for the awkward extra person on what should be a couple's outing.
How do you pronounce “gooseberry”?
“Gooseberry” is pronounced GUUZB-ree (/ˈɡusˌbɛɹi/ in IPA).
How do you use “gooseberry” in a sentence?
Here is “gooseberry” used in a sentence: “Gran's gooseberry crumble is famously sharp.”
What part of speech is “gooseberry”?
“Gooseberry” is a noun.
How many meanings does “gooseberry” have?
“Gooseberry” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small, tart, round green (or sometimes red) berry that grows on a spiny shrub, used in pies, jams, and fools.
