gnomes

Meanings

1. 1nounplural

   Small imaginary creatures from folk stories, usually pictured as bearded old men in pointed red hats who live underground.

   Grammar: Plural of 'gnome', used for the creatures of legend: the gnomes guard the treasure.

   Patterns

   • gnomes of something
   • a tale of gnomes

   In the story, the gnomes hide their gold deep inside the mountain.

   My daughter loves books about elves, fairies and gnomes.

   The gnomes in the old tale were said to repair shoes at night.

2. 2nounplural

   Small painted statues of bearded men in pointed hats, placed in gardens as decoration.

   Grammar: Plural of 'gnome' as a garden ornament: gnomes sat beside the pond.

   Patterns

   • garden gnomes

   Our neighbor has collected dozens of gnomes for her front lawn.

   Someone moved the gnomes from the flower bed to the roof.

   Brightly painted gnomes lined the path to the house.

3. 3nounpluralliteraryrare

   Short, memorable sayings that express a general truth or piece of advice.

   Grammar: Plural of the rare sense 'gnome' meaning a maxim; found mostly in literary writing.

   Patterns

   • gnomes of wisdom

   The poet filled the book with gnomes about patience and work.

   The old teacher spoke mostly in gnomes that students copied down.

Word forms

Common combinations

garden gnomes

The shop sells garden gnomes in every size.

gnomes and elves

The play featured gnomes and elves dancing in the woods.

gnomes guard treasure

In the legend, gnomes guard treasure underground.

a collection of gnomes

She keeps a collection of gnomes on the porch.

pointed hats on gnomes

Gnomes with pointed hats stood in every window.

Synonyms and how they differ

dwarfs

In fantasy, dwarfs are usually mining and smithing characters; gnomes are more often tied to gardens and the earth.

goblins

Goblins are typically mischievous or wicked, whereas gnomes are usually harmless or helpful.

elves

Elves are tall, graceful and magical in most modern fantasy, quite unlike the short, earthy gnomes.

sprites

Sprites are light, airy spirits connected with water or air, not with the ground like gnomes.

Opposites

Word family

gnome noun

one such creature or statue

gnomish adjective

like a gnome, small and odd-looking

gnomic adjective

short and wise, or hard to understand, as a saying

gnomon noun

the part of a sundial that casts the shadow

Commonly confused: gnomes or genome? gnomes or gnomon?

Practice

Make it your own

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

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