In children's stories, a gnome is an imaginary creature that is like a tiny old man with a beard and pointed hat. In Britain people sometimes have small statues of gnomes in their gardens.
gnome in British English1
(nəʊm)
noun
1.
one of a species of legendary creatures, usually resembling small misshapen old men, said to live in the depths of the earth and guard buried treasure
2.
the statue of a gnome, esp in a garden
3.
a very small or ugly person
4. facetious or derogatory
an international banker or financier (esp in the phrase gnomes of Zürich)
Derived forms
gnomish (ˈgnomish) or gnome-like (ˈgnome-like)
adjective
Word origin
C18: from French, from New Latin gnomus, coined by Paracelsus, of obscure origin
gnome in British English2
(nəʊm)
noun
a short pithy saying or maxim expressing a general truth or principle
Word origin
C16: from Greek gnōmē, from gignōskein to know
gnome in American English1
(noʊm)
noun
Folklore
any of a race of small, misshapen, dwarflike beings, supposed to dwell in the earth and guard its treasures
Derived forms
gnomish (ˈgnomish)
adjective
Word origin
Fr < ModL gnomus < Gr gnōmē (see gnome2): so called by Paracelsus, prob. from the belief that gnomes had occult knowledge of the earth
gnome in American English2
(noʊm; ˈnoʊmi)
noun
a wise, pithy saying; maxim
Word origin
LL, a sentence, maxim < Gr gnōmē, thought, judgment, intelligence < gignōskein, to know
Examples of 'gnome' in a sentence
gnome
What do you think of garden gnomes?
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
You can stop blaming the laughing gnomes of Zurich.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
From the moment you come in, gnomes are laughing and smiling all over the place.
The Sun (2011)
Others reckon the arrival of garden gnomes underlined the shop's decline.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
It is a garden gnome.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
I am really against garden gnomes.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
I'm looking more and more like a garden gnome.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
Objects, from a wedding dress to a crumbling garden gnome, tell the story of past relationships.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
A disabled council tax rebel plans to send her 30 garden gnomes into hiding so that bailiffs cannot take them.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
In other languages
gnome
British English: gnome NOUN
In children's stories, a gnome is an imaginary creature that is like a tiny old man with a beard and pointed hat.