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Definition of bitter gourd
bitter gourd
Plural:bitter gourds
• noun
1
The edible, warty, oblong fruit of a tropical and subtropical vine, known for its extremely bitter taste and extensive use in Asian, African, and Caribbean cuisines.
Example
"She prepared a traditional stir-fry by tossing sliced bitter gourd with garlic and fermented black beans."
2
The tropical and subtropical vine itself, belonging to the family Cucurbitaceae, widely cultivated across Asia, Africa, and the Caribbean for its edible, distinctly bitter fruit.
Example
"The farmer built a sturdy trellis to support the rapidly climbing bitter gourd during the summer monsoon."
Synonyms
View all synonyms for bitter gourd• Nearby Words
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Bitter gourd. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 17, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/bitter%20gourd