gondola

C1 Topic:Transportation

US /ˈɡɑːn.də.lə/ UK /ˈɡɒn.də.lə/ See IPA manual

Freq #24712

Meanings

1

noun
a long, narrow, flat-bottomed Venetian boat propelled and steered with a single oar

The gondola moved quietly through the narrow Venetian canal.
2

noun
an enclosed car suspended from a cable, airship, balloon, or similar structure

The cable-car gondola carried six passengers above the valley.
3

noun
a low open railway freight car with fixed sides and no roof

The steel coils were secured inside an open gondola.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a long, narrow,... Venetian boat

2 noun · an enclosed car suspended... cable carsuspended car

3 noun · a low open railway freight... gondola caropen freight car

Word family

Derived forms gondolasgondolier

Related forms canalbarcarollecableway

Appears in

Phrases (1)

See all

gondola car
an open-topped railway freight wagon with fixed sides

Noun + noun

Etymology

Borrowed from Italian gondola, probably through the Venetian form gondola. Its deeper origin is uncertain. The name first denoted the characteristic Venetian boat and was later transferred by resemblance to suspended passenger cars and open railway wagons.

Topics

Transportation

External links

# gondola

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun
**IPA (US):** /ˈɡɑːn.də.lə/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈɡɒn.də.lə/
**Frequency rank:** 24712

## Meanings
1. a long, narrow, flat-bottomed Venetian boat propelled and steered with a single oar
2. an enclosed car suspended from a cable, airship, balloon, or similar structure
3. a low open railway freight car with fixed sides and no roof

## Examples
- The gondola moved quietly through the narrow Venetian canal.
- The cable-car gondola carried six passengers above the valley.
- The steel coils were secured inside an open gondola.

## Synonyms
- Venetian boat
- cable car
- gondola car

## Derived Forms
- gondolas
- gondolier

## Related Forms
- canal
- barcarolle
- cableway

## Etymology
Borrowed from Italian gondola, probably through the Venetian form gondola. Its deeper origin is uncertain. The name first denoted the characteristic Venetian boat and was later transferred by resemblance to suspended passenger cars and open railway wagons.

## Topics
- Transportation

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