a gnome

Meanings

1. 1nouncountable

   A small imaginary creature like an old man with a pointed hat, often shown in stories.

   Grammar: Countable: one gnome, two gnomes. Use 'a' for one.

   Patterns

   • a garden gnome
   • a gnome in the garden

   In the story, a gnome helped the lost children find their way home.

   She collects small figures of gnomes and fairies.

2. 2nouncountableinformal

   A small stone or plastic figure of such a creature, used to decorate gardens.

   Grammar: Often used in the phrase 'garden gnome'.

   Patterns

   • a garden gnome
   • put a gnome in the garden

   They put a colorful gnome near the front door.

   My grandmother has a gnome sitting among her flowers.

Word forms

Common combinations

garden gnome

The garden gnome wore a red hat.

a gnome's hat

The gnome's hat was tall and pointed.

a statue of a gnome

They bought a statue of a gnome for the yard.

Synonyms and how they differ

dwarf

A dwarf is a similar imaginary creature but usually lives in mountains or mines and is often stronger; a gnome is more often linked to gardens and earth.

elf

An elf is a small magical being, often graceful and sometimes helpful; a gnome is usually shown as a tiny old man with a pointed hat.

Commonly confused: a gnome or gnome?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “a gnome”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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