goose  (g s)
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n. pl. geese (g ēs) 1. a. Any of various wild or domesticated waterbirds of the family Anatidae, and especially of the genera Anser, Branta, and Chen, characteristically having a shorter neck than that of a swan and a shorter, more pointed bill than that of a duck. b. The female of such a bird. c. The flesh of such a bird used as food. 2. Informal A silly person. 3. pl. goos·es A tailor's pressing iron with a long curved handle. 4. Slang A poke, prod, or pinch between or on the buttocks. tr.v. goosed, goos·ing, goos·es Slang 1. To poke, prod, or pinch (a person) between or on the buttocks. 2. To move to action; spur: goosed the governor to sign the tax bill. 3. To give a spurt of fuel to (a car, for example); cause to accelerate quickly: "The pilot goosed his craft, powering away" (Nicholas Proffitt).
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The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fifth Edition copyright ©2018 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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