gooseberry

American  

[goos-ber-ee, -buh-ree, gooz-] / ˈgusˌbɛr i, -bə ri, ˈguz- /

noun

plural

gooseberries

1. the edible, acid, globular, sometimes spiny fruit of certain prickly shrubs belonging to the genus Ribes, of the saxifrage family, especially R. uva-crispa (orR. grossularia ).

2. a shrub bearing this fruit.

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gooseberry British  

/ ˈɡʊzbərɪ, -brɪ /

noun

1. a Eurasian shrub, Ribes uva-crispa (or R. grossularia ), having greenish, purple-tinged flowers and ovoid yellow-green or red-purple berries: family Grossulariaceae See also currant

2. 1. the berry of this plant

   2. ( as modifier )

      gooseberry jam

3. informal an unwanted single person in a group of couples, esp a third person with a couple (often in the phrase play gooseberry )

4. a tropical American solanaceous plant, Physalis peruviana, naturalized in southern Africa, having yellow flowers and edible yellow berries See also ground cherry

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Etymology

Origin of gooseberry

First recorded in 1525–35; goose + berry

Example Sentences

Or maybe they just have an effective rebrand, as did the kiwi — formerly called the Chinese gooseberry.

From Salon • Aug. 14, 2024

Eventually, if all goes as hoped, patches of Gary oak, desert gooseberry, and mock orange will take hold and a lush ribbon of cottonwood, willow, and ash trees will line the banks of the river.

From Science Magazine • Oct. 18, 2023

Light-bodied, racy acidity with the characteristic grassy, gooseberry flavors of New Zealand savvie.

From Washington Post • Jan. 13, 2022

Owen: The nose shows bright green bell pepper and dried herbs with gooseberry tones.

From Seattle Times • Dec. 16, 2021

Beneath that he had written, “I am sorry to say that our gooseberry died at three o’clock this morning.”

From "Walk Two Moons" by Sharon Creech