Gumbo — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun /ˈgəm-(ˌ)bō/ gum·bo

Meaning & Definition of Gumbo

Gumbo (noun)

  1. a soup thickened with okra pods or filé and containing meat or seafoods and usually vegetables
  2. okra
  3. any of various fine-grained silty soils especially of the central U.S. that when wet become impervious and soapy or waxy and very sticky
  4. creole

Gumbo (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. an unorganized collection or mixture of various things

    "drew his artistic inspiration from the city's rich gumbo of musical styles"

    similar: agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, miscellany, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad, salmagundi, scramble, shuffle, smorgasbord, stew, tumble, variety, welter
    related: detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries, accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration, catchall, admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up, bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast (chiefly British), mess, morass, shambles, imbroglio, knot, snarl, tangle

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Gumbo

The most common words with a similar meaning to Gumbo:

agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago, gallimaufry, grab bag, hash, hodgepodge, hotchpotch, jambalaya, jumble, jungle, litter, macédoine, medley, mélange, menagerie, miscellanea, miscellany, mishmash, mixed bag, montage, motley, muddle, olio, olla podrida, omnium-gatherum, pastiche, patchwork, patchwork quilt, potpourri, ragbag, ragout, rummage, salad

Related Words for Gumbo

detritus, notions, oddments, odds and ends, sundries, accumulation, aggregate, aggregation, conglomerate, conglomeration, catchall, admixture, alloy, amalgam, blend, combination, commixture, composite, compound, fusion, intermixture, mix-up, bollix, chaos, confusion, disarrangement, disarray, disorder, dog's breakfast, mess

Word Forms of Gumbo

Inflections: gumbos

Derived words: gumbo (adjective)

Origin & Etymology of Gumbo

American French gombo, of Bantu origin; akin to Umbundu ochinggômbo okra

First known use: 1802

Words & Phrases Containing Gumbo

gumbo-limbo

Frequently Asked Questions about Gumbo

What does "Gumbo" mean?

"Gumbo" means a soup thickened with okra pods or filé and containing meat or seafoods and usually vegetables. As a noun, it is defined as: a soup thickened with okra pods or filé and containing meat or seafoods and usually vegetables.

What is another word for "Gumbo"?

Other words for "Gumbo" include agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage and crazy quilt. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Gumbo" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Gumbo"?

There are 84 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Gumbo". Common alternatives include agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch, clutter, collage, crazy quilt, farrago and gallimaufry.

How do you use "Gumbo" in a sentence?

Examples of "Gumbo" in a sentence: "drew his artistic inspiration from the city's rich gumbo of musical styles".

Is "Gumbo" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Gumbo" is a noun.

How do you pronounce "Gumbo"?

"Gumbo" is pronounced /ˈgəm-(ˌ)bō/ and divided into syllables as gum·bo.

What is the origin of the word "Gumbo"?

"Gumbo" comes from American French gombo, of Bantu origin; akin to Umbundu ochinggômbo okra. First known use: 1802.

What is another word for "Gumbo" meaning "an unorganized collection or mixture of various things"?

When "Gumbo" (noun) means an unorganized collection or mixture of various things, synonyms include agglomerate, agglomeration, alphabet soup, assortment, botch and clutter.