goose

/gu:s/

Friendly

The word "goose" can be understood in a few different ways. Let’s break it down step by step.

Basic Definition

1. Noun:

   • Animal: A "goose" is a type of bird that is typically larger than a duck. They have long necks and webbed feet, and they often live in groups. Geese can be found both in the wild and on farms.
   • Meat: The flesh of a goose can also be eaten and is considered a delicacy in some cultures.
   • Foolish Person: Sometimes, the word "goose" is used informally to describe a man who is acting foolishly or incompetently.

2. Verb:

   • To "goose" someone can mean to poke them in a playful or mischievous way, often in the rear. It can also mean to give a car a burst of fuel to make it go faster.

Usage Instructions

• As a noun: You can say, "I saw a goose swimming in the lake."
• As a verb: You might say, "He goosed the car to make it go faster."

Example Sentences

1. Noun (Animal): "The goose honked loudly as it flew overhead."
2. Noun (Flesh): "We had roast goose for dinner during the holiday."
3. Noun (Fool): "Don’t be a goose; think carefully before you act!"
4. Verb: "She goosed him playfully, and they both laughed."

Advanced Usage

• In literature or idioms: Sometimes "goose" can appear in phrases like "silly goose," which is a light-hearted way to call someone foolish.
• Phrasal Verbs: There are no specific phrasal verbs for "goose," but using it as a verb in phrases like "goose it" means to increase speed or effort.

Variants

• Geese: This is the plural form of goose. "I saw a flock of geese flying south for the winter."
• Goosing: This is the present participle form of the verb. "He is goosing the engine to make it run better."

Different Meanings

1. Animal: Refers to the bird itself.
2. Meat: Refers to the food derived from the bird.
3. Fool: A slang term for a foolish man.
4. Action: To give a playful poke or to speed up a vehicle.

Synonyms

• For the bird: "waterfowl," "gander" (male goose)
• For foolish person: "fool," "simpleton"
• For the action: "prod," "poke"

Idioms

• "Silly goose": Used to refer to someone who is acting silly or foolishly.
• "Goose egg": Means a score of zero, often used in sports or tests.

Summary

The word "goose" has multiple meanings and uses. It can refer to a bird, the meat from that bird, a foolish person, or an action of poking.

Academic

Noun

1. flesh of a goose (domestic or wild)
2. a man who is a stupid incompetent fool
3. web-footed long-necked typically gregarious migratory aquatic birds usually larger and less aquatic than ducks

Verb

1. give a spurt of fuel to
   • goose the car
2. prod into action
3. pinch in the buttocks
   • he goosed the unsuspecting girl

Synonyms

• fathead
• goof
• goofball
• bozo
• jackass
• cuckoo
• twat
• zany