goose
[ goos ]
/ gus /
noun, plural geese for 1, 2, 4, 8; goos·es for 5–7.
verb (used with object), goosed, goos·ing.
Slang.
to poke (a person) between the buttocks to startle.
Informal.
- to prod or urge to action or an emotional reaction: The promise of time off may goose the workers and increase profits.
- to strengthen or improve (often followed by up): Let's goose up the stew with some wine.
- to increase; raise (often followed by up): to goose up government loans in weak industries.
- to give a spurt of fuel to (a motor) to increase speed.
Idioms for goose plural geese.
cook someone's goose, Informal.
to ruin someone's hopes, plans, chances, etc.: His goose was cooked when they found the stolen gems in his pocket.
Origin of goose
before 1000; Middle English
gose, goos, Old English
gōs (plural
gēs); cognate with German
Gans, Old Norse
gās; compare Sanskrit
haṅsa, Greek
chḗn, Latin
ānser
OTHER WORDS FROM goose
goose·like, adjectiveWords nearby goose
goony,
goop,
goopy,
goorie,
goosander,
goose,
goose barnacle,
goose bay,
goose bumps,
goose creek,
goose egg
Example sentences from the Web for goose
British Dictionary definitions for goose (1 of 2)
goose
1
/ (ɡuːs) /
noun plural geese (ɡiːs)
Word Origin for goose
Old English
gōs; related to Old Norse
gās, Old High German
gans, Old Irish
gēiss swan, Greek
khēn, Sanskrit
hainsas
British Dictionary definitions for goose (2 of 2)
goose
2
/ (ɡuːs) slang /
verb
(tr)
to prod (a person) playfully in the behind
noun plural gooses
a playful prod in the behind
Word Origin for goose
C19: from
goose
1, probably from a comparison with the jabbing of a goose's bill
Idioms and Phrases with goose
goose