English dictionary, thesaurus, translations & etymology
FreeDict.com
noun

gouge

GOWJ

Gouge (noun) means a chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone. Example: “He used a gouge to carve the bowl of the wooden spoon.”

noun
1
A chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone.
"He used a gouge to carve the bowl of the wooden spoon."
2
A groove or hole left behind, as if cut by such a tool.
"There was a deep gouge in the table where the moving crew had dropped a box."
verb
1
To dig, scoop, or cut a groove or hole into something.
"The forklift gouged a chunk out of the warehouse wall."
2
To overcharge someone, especially by taking unfair advantage of a situation.
"Some hotels gouge tourists during festival weekends."

How to use gouge

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA curved chisel or the groove it makes, or (as a verb) to scoop out a hole, or to badly overcharge someone.

Easily confused with
Common pairings
price gouging gouge a hole gouge someone's eyes out

Word forms

gouged past tense, gouges plural, Gouges plural, gouges singular

Study it as flashcards or scroll it in Flow — saved to your collection.
Test yourself on “gouge” A quick quiz — meaning, synonyms & usage

Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

He used a _____ to carve the bowl of the wooden spoon.

Etymology

From Old French gouge, a word for a chisel with a curved blade, traced back to a Gaulish word for "beak" or "point".

Origin: Old French

Related words

Rhymes for gouge

See all rhymes for gouge →

Frequently asked questions

What does “gouge” mean?

The word “gouge” means a chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone. In plain terms, a curved chisel or the groove it makes, or (as a verb) to scoop out a hole, or to badly overcharge someone.

How do you pronounce “gouge”?

“Gouge” is pronounced GOWJ (/ˈɡaʊ̯d͡ʒ/ in IPA).

How do you use “gouge” in a sentence?

Here is “gouge” used in a sentence: “He used a gouge to carve the bowl of the wooden spoon.”

What part of speech is “gouge”?

Depending on how it is used, “gouge” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “gouge” come from?

The word “gouge” comes from Old French. From Old French gouge, a word for a chisel with a curved blade, traced back to a Gaulish word for "beak" or "point".

How many meanings does “gouge” have?

“Gouge” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a chisel with a curved blade, used to cut grooves or hollows into wood or stone.

People also searched

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial