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.
"I took a gander and she seemed so familiar."
"As well as the church and its sexton, the market house is worth a gander, while the hop fields and orchards are "reminding one of Kent", for we are in another "Garden of England"."
— Stephen Roberts, Bradshaw's Britain: the Cotswold Line: Ledbury (2022)
"Have a gander at what he’s written."
"Take a gander at this and tell me what you think."
How to use gander
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- ganders
- Third person singular
- ganders
- Past tense
- gandered
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
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.
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.
