Gnome Definition & Meaning

American

British

Related Words

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Examples

Related Words

Synonyms gnome 1 American [nohm] / noʊm /

noun

1. (in folklore) one of a species of diminutive beings, usually described as shriveled little old men, that inhabit the interior of the earth and act as guardians of its treasures; troll.

2. an expert in monetary or financial affairs; international banker or financier.

   the gnomes of Zurich.

gnome 2 American [nohm, noh-mee] / noʊm, ˈnoʊ mi /

noun

1. a short, pithy expression of a general truth; aphorism.

gnome 1 British / nəʊm /

noun

1. one of a species of legendary creatures, usually resembling small misshapen old men, said to live in the depths of the earth and guard buried treasure

2. the statue of a gnome, esp in a garden

3. a very small or ugly person

4. facetious an international banker or financier (esp in the phrase gnomes of Zürich )

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 gnome 2 British / nəʊm /

noun

1. a short pithy saying or maxim expressing a general truth or principle

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Related Words

See goblin, sylph.

Other Word Forms

• gnomish adjective

Etymology

Origin of gnome1

1705–15; from French from New Latin gnomus, perhaps from Greek gnṓmē; gnome 2

Origin of gnome2

First recorded in 1570–80, gnome is from the Greek word gnṓmē judgment, opinion, purpose

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

The next morning, the village bell chimed and gnomes ran all over The Mountain crying, “Rump! Rump! The new boy’s name is Rump!”

From Literature

It was a house, just a house, three stories, brick with leaded-glass windows, and a sloping lawn out front with two garden gnomes at the head of a brick walkway.

From Literature

As Madsen of the Los Padres National Forest explained later by phone, they were “created by the trail gnomes” — hikers arranging rocks themselves to adjust water flow and temperature, with no government entities involved.

From Los Angeles Times

I wanted to fold in all these things that feel magical, like gnomes coming to life, but not have George be surprised by them.

From The Wall Street Journal

The road is lined with stone walls and cottages adorned with flags, painted rocks, wind chimes and gnomes — a mini Topanga Canyon anchored by Mary’s Market, a 103-year-old eclectic diner and country store.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fairy

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.