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Definition of ash gourd
ash gourd
Plural:ash gourds
ash gourd Lexical Profile
CEFR
C1
Grade
8
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A large, edible fruit native to South and Southeast Asia that develops a characteristic powdery, wax-like white coating when mature, widely used in Asian cuisine and traditional medicine.
Example
"She prepared a traditional Indian curry using freshly diced ash gourd and coconut milk."
2
The vigorous trailing or climbing vine of the cucumber family (Benincasa hispida) that produces these large, pale fruits.
Example
"The ash gourd had overgrown its trellis and spread extensively across the garden bed."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for ash gourdWord Origin & Etymology
Derived from the prominent ash-like, white waxy coating that develops on the mature fruit's exterior, combined with 'gourd' from the Old French 'coorde' indicating its botanical family.
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Ash gourd. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 11, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/ash gourd