bottle gourd
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun 1. A plant (Lagenaria siceraria): An Old World climbing vine cultivated for its fruit, which develops a hard, durable shell when mature. The fruit is often bottle-shaped. 2. The fruit of this plant: The hard-shelled, bottle-shaped gourd itself, historically used as a container, utensil, or musical instrument when dried and hollowed.
Usage
- The bottle gourd is a fast-growing vine that requires a trellis for support.
- After drying, the shell of a bottle gourd can be used to make a water dipper.
- Archaeologists found ancient bottle gourds used as storage vessels.
Advanced Usage
- Cultural Significance: In many cultures, the bottle gourd holds symbolic meaning and is used in rituals, crafts, and traditional medicine.
- As a Material: The term can refer to the cured shell material used for crafting items like bowls, birdhouses, or stringed instruments.
Variants and Related Words
- Calabash: Often used synonymously with bottle gourd, especially for the dried, hollowed fruit used as a container.
- Lagenaria siceraria: The botanical name for the bottle gourd plant.
Synonyms
- Calabash
- White-flowered gourd
Related Phrases
- Gourd vine: A general term for plants in the family Cucurbitaceae, which includes the bottle gourd.
Noun
- Old World climbing plant with hard-shelled bottle-shaped gourds as fruits