gui nea fowl (guinea fowl ) N‑COUNT A guinea fowl is a large grey African bird that is often eaten as food.
gui nea pig (guinea pigs ) also guinea-pig
1 N‑COUNT If someone is used as a guinea pig in an experiment, something is tested on them that has not been tested on people before. □ …a human guinea pig. □ Nearly 500,000 pupils are to be guinea pigs in a trial run of the new 14-plus exams.
2 N‑COUNT A guinea pig is a small furry animal without a tail. Guinea pigs are often kept as pets.
guise /ga I z/ (guises ) N‑COUNT You use guise to refer to the outward appearance or form of someone or something, which is often temporary or different from their real nature. □ [+ of ] He turned up at a fancy dress Easter dance in the guise of a white rabbit.
gui|tar ◆◇◇ /g I tɑː r / (guitars ) N‑VAR A guitar is a musical instrument with six strings and a long neck. You play the guitar by plucking or strumming the strings.
gui|tar|ist /g I tɑː r I st/ (guitarists ) N‑COUNT A guitarist is someone who plays the guitar.
gu|lag /guː læg/ (gulags ) N‑COUNT A gulag is a prison camp where conditions are extremely bad and the prisoners are forced to work very hard. The name gulag comes from the prison camps in the former Soviet Union.
gulch /gʌ ltʃ/ (gulches ) N‑COUNT [oft in names] A gulch is a long narrow valley with steep sides which has been made by a stream flowing through it. [mainly AM ] □ …California Gulch.
gulf /gʌ lf/ (gulfs )
1 N‑COUNT A gulf is an important or significant difference between two people, things, or groups. □ [+ between ] Within society, there is a growing gulf between rich and poor. □ [+ between ] …the gulf between rural and urban life.
2 N‑COUNT A gulf is a large area of sea which extends a long way into the surrounding land. □ …damage caused by hurricanes in the Gulf of Mexico.
Gulf N‑PROPER [oft N n] The Gulf is used to refer to the Arabian Gulf, the Persian Gulf and the surrounding countries. □ …the Gulf crisis. □ …the Gulf War. □ …the oil wells of the Gulf.
gull /gʌ l/ (gulls ) N‑COUNT A gull is a common sea bird.
gul|let /gʌ l I t/ (gullets ) N‑COUNT Your gullet is the tube which goes from your mouth to your stomach.
gul|ley /gʌ li/ → see gully
gul|lible /gʌ l I b ə l/ ADJ If you describe someone as gullible , you mean they are easily tricked because they are too trusting. □ I'm so gullible I would have believed him. ● gul|li|bil|ity /gʌ ləb I l I ti/ N‑UNCOUNT [oft with poss] □ Was she taking part of the blame for her own gullibility?
gul|ly /gʌ li/ (gullies ) also gulley N‑COUNT A gully is a long narrow valley with steep sides. □ The bodies of the three climbers were located at the bottom of a steep gully.
gulp /gʌ lp/ (gulps , gulping , gulped )
1 VERB If you gulp something, you eat or drink it very quickly by swallowing large quantities of it at once. □ [V n] She quickly gulped her tea.
2 VERB If you gulp , you swallow air, often making a noise in your throat as you do so, because you are nervous or excited. [WRITTEN ] □ [V ] I gulped, and then proceeded to tell her the whole story. □ [V with quote] 'I'm sorry,' he gulped.
3 VERB If you gulp air, you breathe in a large amount of air quickly through your mouth. □ [V n + into ] She gulped air into her lungs. □ [V + for ] He slumped back, gulping for air.
4 N‑COUNT A gulp of air, food, or drink, is a large amount of it that you swallow at once. □ [+ of ] I took in a large gulp of air. □ He finished his tea in two huge gulps.
▸ gulp down PHRASAL VERB If you gulp down food or drink, you quickly eat or drink it all by swallowing large quantities of it at once. □ [V P n] She gulped down a mouthful of coffee. □ [V n P ] He'd gulped it down in one bite.
gum /gʌ m/ (gums , gumming , gummed )
1 N‑VAR Gum is a substance, usually tasting of mint, which you chew for a long time but do not swallow.
2 → see also bubble gum , chewing gum
3 N‑COUNT [usu pl] Your gums are the areas of firm, pink flesh inside your mouth, which your teeth grow out of. □ The toothbrush gently removes plaque without damaging the gums. □ …gum disease.
4 N‑VAR Gum is a type of glue that is used to stick two pieces of paper together. [mainly BRIT ] □ He was holding up a pound note that had been torn in half and stuck together with gum. ● gummed ADJ [usu ADJ n] □ …gummed labels.
5 ADJ If two things are gummed together , they are stuck together. [BRIT ] □ It is a mild infection in which a baby's eyelashes can become gummed together.
gum|ball /gʌ mbɔːl/ (gumballs ) N‑COUNT Gumballs are round, brightly coloured balls of chewing gum. [mainly AM ]
gum|bo /gʌ mboʊ/ (gumbos )
1 N‑VAR Gumbo is a type of soup or stew from the southern United States. It can be made with meat or fish, and usually contains okra.
2 N‑UNCOUNT In parts of the United States, gumbo is another name for okra .
gum|boot /gʌ mbuːt/ (gumboots ) N‑COUNT [usu pl] Gumboots are long rubber boots which you wear to keep your feet dry. [BRIT , OLD-FASHIONED ]