loofah

UK: /ˈluːfə/ US: (lo̅o̅′fə)

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026

loo•fah  (lo̅o̅′fə), n. 

1. Plant Biology Also called dishcloth gourd, rag gourd. 
   • any of several tropical vines of the genus Luffa, of the gourd family, bearing large, elongated fruit.
   • the fruit of such a vine.
2. Plant Biology Also called vegetable sponge. the dried, fibrous interior of this fruit, used as a sponge.

Also, loo′fa, luffa. 

• Arabic lūf 
• Neo-Latin Luffa the genus
• 1860–65

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

loofah / ˈluːfə/ noun

1. the fibrous interior of the fruit of the dishcloth gourd, which is dried, bleached, and used as a bath sponge or for scrubbing

Also called (esp US): loofa, luffa Etymology: 19th Century: from New Latin luffa, from Arabic lūf