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noun

gander

GAN-duh

Gander (noun) means an adult male goose. Example: “The gander hissed and chased anyone who came near the pond.”

noun
1
An adult male goose.
"The gander hissed and chased anyone who came near the pond."
2
A quick look or glance.
"Take a gander at this and tell me what you think."

How to use gander

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA male goose, or informally, a glance at something.

When to use it

"Take a gander" is informal and mostly used in casual speech.

Common pairings
take a gander at have a gander

Word forms

gandered past tense, ganders plural, ganders singular

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Fill the gap

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The _____ hissed and chased anyone who came near the pond.

Etymology

From Old English gandra, related to Proto-Germanic roots for "goose" — the "quick look" sense comes from the image of craning your neck like a goose to see something.

Origin: Old English

Rhymes for gander

See all rhymes for gander →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gander” mean?

The word “gander” means an adult male goose. In plain terms, a male goose, or informally, a glance at something.

How do you pronounce “gander”?

“Gander” is pronounced GAN-duh (/ˈɡæn.dɚ/ in IPA).

How do you use “gander” in a sentence?

Here is “gander” used in a sentence: “The gander hissed and chased anyone who came near the pond.”

What part of speech is “gander”?

“Gander” is a noun.

Where does the word “gander” come from?

The word “gander” comes from Old English. From Old English gandra, related to Proto-Germanic roots for "goose" — the "quick look" sense comes from the image of craning your neck like a goose to see something.

How many meanings does “gander” have?

“Gander” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an adult male goose.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial