goose

UK: /ˈguːs/ US: /gus/ ,(go̅o̅s)

Inflections of 'goose' (n):

gooses

npl (Senses relating to prodding or stimulating only)

geese

npl (All other countable usages)

Inflections of 'goose' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

gooses

v 3rd person singular

goosing

v pres p

goosed

v past

goosed

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026

goose /gus/   n., pl. geese for 1, 2. 4.

1. Birds [countable] a wild or farm bird, web-footed and able to swim well, larger and with a longer neck and legs than a duck.
2. Birds [countable] the female of this bird. Compare gander (def. 1).
3. [uncountable] the flesh of a goose, used as food.
4. [countable] a silly or foolish person;
   simpleton.

Idioms

5. Idioms cook someone's goose, [Informal.] to ruin someone's chances or future.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

goose  (go̅o̅s), n., pl. geese for 1, 2, 4, 8, 9;
goos•es for 5–7;
v., goosed, goos•ing. 
n. 

1. Birds any of numerous wild or domesticated, web-footed swimming birds of the family Anatidae, esp. of the genera Anser and Branta, most of which are larger and have a longer neck and legs than the ducks.
2. Birds the female of this bird, as distinguished from the male, or gander.
3. the flesh of a goose, used as food.
4. a silly or foolish person;
   simpleton.
5. Slang Terms a poke between the buttocks to startle.
6. Informal Terms anything that energizes, strengthens, or the like:
   to give the economy a badly needed goose.
7. a tailor's smoothing iron with a curved handle.
8. Games an obsolete board game played with dice and counters in which a player whose cast falls in a square containing the picture of a goose is allowed to advance double the number of his or her throw.
9. Informal Terms, Idioms cook someone's goose, to ruin someone's hopes, plans, chances, etc.:
   His goose was cooked when they found the stolen gems in his pocket.

v.t. 

10. Slang Terms to poke (a person) between the buttocks to startle.
11. Informal Terms
    • 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 fol. by up):
      Let's goose up the stew with some wine.
    • to increase;
      raise (often fol. by up):
      to goose up government loans in weak industries.
    • to give a spurt of fuel to (a motor) to increase speed.

• bef. 1000; Middle English gose, goos, Old English gōs (plural gēs); cognate with German Gans, Old Norse gās; compare Sanskrit haṅsa, Greek ché̄n, Latin ānser

goose′like′, adj. 

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

goose / ɡuːs/ noun (geese / ɡiːs/)

1. any of various web-footed long-necked birds of the family Anatidae: order Anseriformes. They are typically larger and less aquatic than ducks and are gregarious and migratory
   See also brent goose, barnacle goose, greylag, snow goose
2. the female of such a bird, as opposed to the male (gander)
3. a silly person
4. (gooses) a pressing iron with a long curving handle, used esp by tailors
5. the flesh of the goose, used as food
6. cook someone's goose ⇒ to spoil someone's plans
7. to bring about someone's ruin, downfall, etc
8. kill the goose that lays the golden eggs ⇒ to sacrifice future benefits for the sake of momentary present needs
   See also golden goose

Etymology: Old English gōs; related to Old Norse gās, Old High German gans, Old Irish gēiss swan, Greek khēn, Sanskrit hainsas

goose / ɡuːs/ verb

1. (transitive) to prod (a person) playfully in the behind

noun (gooses)

1. a playful prod in the behind

Etymology: 19th Century: from goose¹, probably from a comparison with the jabbing of a goose's bill