Dictionary
gondola
noun gon·do·la \ˈgän-də-lə (usual for sense 1), gän-ˈdō-\
: a long narrow boat used on the canals of Venice
: the part of a balloon or airship in which passengers or instruments are carried
: a vehicle that hangs from a cable and is used for carrying passengers (such as skiers) especially up a mountain
Full Definition of GONDOLA
1
: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice
2
: a heavy flat-bottomed boat used on New England rivers and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers
3
: a railroad car with no top, a flat bottom, and fixed sides that is used chiefly for hauling heavy bulk commodities
4
a : an elongated car attached to the underside of an airship b : an often spherical airtight enclosure suspended from a balloon for carrying passengers or instruments c : an enclosed car suspended from a cable and used for transporting passengers; especially : one used as a ski lift
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Illustration of GONDOLA
Origin of GONDOLA
Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel
First Known Use: 1549
GONDOLA Defined for Kids
gondola
noun gon·do·la \ˈgän-də-lə, 2 and 3 also gän-ˈdō-lə\
Definition of GONDOLA for Kids
1
: a long narrow boat used in the canals of Venice, Italy
2
: a railroad freight car with no top
3
: an enclosure that hangs from a balloon or cable and carries passengers or instruments
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