gnome
gb/nˈoʊm/ us/nˈoʊm/
B1
English
~ 5300
kerti törpe, gnóm, manó, háttérember, szürke eminenciás, aforizma, bölcs mondás
NOUN
B1
1
kerti törpe
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] puts a gnome in [a place]
She lined the path with a gnome on each side.
Egy-egy kerti törpét állított az ösvény két oldalára.
Their front yard is full of colorful gnomes and windmills.
Az előkertjük tele van színes kerti törpékkel és szélmalmokkal.
He bought a new gnome to replace the one that broke in the storm.
The old stone gnome by the gate has become a neighborhood landmark.
They joked that the gnome was guarding the vegetable patch.
Learner examples
There is a small gnome in front of the house.
Van egy kis kerti törpe a ház előtt.
My grandfather has ten gnomes in his garden.
A nagyapámnak tíz kerti törpéje van a kertjében.
We put a gnome next to the door.
The red gnome stands under the tree.
She took a photo with the big garden gnome.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse a 'gnome' with a 'dwarf' or 'elf.' A gnome in this sense is specifically a small statue used as decoration outside a house, not a real or fantasy creature in a story.
Meaning
Small garden or lawn ornament
Collocations
garden gnome
|lawn gnome
|plastic gnome
|ceramic gnome
|gnome collection
|gnome statue
Synonyms
garden ornament (More general; can be any decorative object in a garden, not specifically a small person-shaped figure.)
Antonyms
plant (Contrasts a living natural part of a garden with an artificial decorative figure.)
Themes
home
|leisure
|housing
|arts_entertainment
|daily_life
Definition
A small fake person, usually with a beard and hat, that people put in their garden or yard for decoration.
A small statue of a person-like figure, usually bearded and wearing a pointed hat, used as decoration in a garden or yard.
NOUN
B1
2
Usage pattern:
[someone] writes about a gnome in [a story/place]
The children’s book tells the story of a lonely gnome who lives under a tree.
A gyerekkönyv egy magányos, fa alatt élő gnómról szól.
In the game you can choose to play as a gnome or an elf.
A játékban választhatod, hogy gnómként vagy elfként játszol.
Legends said that a gnome guarded the treasure deep beneath the mountain.
A tiny gnome appears in his dreams and gives him advice.
The film shows a hidden world of gnomes living under the city streets.
Learner examples
The story is about a gnome who helps a boy.
A történet egy gnómról szól, aki segít egy fiúnak.
In this game, my character is a gnome.
Ebben a játékban a karakterem egy gnóm.
The gnome lives under the old tree.
A gnome comes out at night and cleans the house.
She drew a gnome with a long white beard.
Common mistake:
Learners may use 'gnome' for any small fantasy creature. In English, 'gnome' is usually a very small, often bearded, human-like being connected with the ground or gardens, and is different from elves, fairies, or goblins.
Meaning
Small underground mythical creature
Collocations
friendly gnome
|little gnome
|forest gnome
|underground gnome
|gnome character
|gnome village
Synonyms
dwarf (Another small humanoid creature in fantasy; often stronger and more associated with mines and metalwork, while gnomes are more earth- or garden-linked and sometimes more whimsical.)
Antonyms
giant (A very large human-like creature, opposite of a very small human-like creature.)
Themes
mythology
|fantasy
|entertainment
|arts_entertainment
|nature
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very small man-like creature from stories, usually with a beard, that lives in the ground or in the forest.
In folklore and fantasy stories, a very small human-like creature, often bearded and associated with living in the earth, forests, or gardens.
NOUN
C1
INFORMAL
3
háttérember
B2
Usage pattern:
[someone] calls [someone] a gnome of [a place/sector]
Critics blamed the crisis on the faceless gnomes running the big banks.
A kritikusok a nagy bankokat irányító arctalan háttérembereket okolták a válságért.
He likes to complain about the gnomes in Brussels who make all the rules.
Szeret a brüsszeli háttéremberekre panaszkodni, akik minden szabályt meghoznak.
Some people imagine a group of financial gnomes quietly moving markets from behind closed doors.
Learner examples
The article said that little gnomes in the banks control the money.
A cikk szerint a bankokban ülő háttéremberek irányítják a pénzt.
People are angry at the gnomes in government who make secret plans.
Az emberek dühösek a kormányzat háttérembereire, akik titkos terveket szőnek.
She joked that some gnomes on Wall Street decide everything.
They talked about the gnomes of Zurich in the news.
He thinks invisible gnomes in big offices control the world economy.
Common mistake:
Learners may think this use is about real fantasy creatures. In political or economic talk, 'gnome' is a metaphor for a secretive, often disliked person with hidden power, not an actual small being.
Meaning
Secretive, powerful financial or bureaucratic figure
Collocations
financial gnome
|gnomes of Zurich
|bureaucratic gnomes
|little gnomes in Brussels
|shadowy gnomes
|banking gnomes
Synonyms
power broker (Stresses political influence; 'gnome' adds a slightly mocking picture of small, hidden figures controlling things.)
Antonyms
outsider (Someone with no inside access or hidden influence, opposite of a secretive insider with power.)
Themes
business
|politics
|society
|finance
Definition
A person who works quietly in banking or government and is thought to have secret power or control.
A person, often imagined as small and hidden, who is believed to quietly control money or make important decisions behind the scenes, especially in banking or government.
NOUN
C2
LITERARY
4
aforizma
C1
bölcs mondás
B1
Usage pattern:
[someone] repeats a gnome about [a topic]
The writer fills his essays with gnomes about love and loss.
Az író esszéit a szerelemről és a veszteségről szóló aforizmákkal tölti meg.
An old gnome warns that pride comes before a fall.
Egy régi aforizma arra int, hogy a gőg bukáshoz vezet.
He ended his speech with a simple gnome on the value of patience.
Learner examples
The teacher wrote a short gnome on the board.
A tanár egy rövid aforizmát írt a táblára.
She likes to share old gnomes about life.
Szeret régi bölcs mondásokat megosztani az életről.
This gnome says that hard work brings success.
We learned a gnome that says time is very important.
He used a famous gnome to start his talk.
Common mistake:
This meaning is rare. Learners usually know 'gnome' only as a small creature or garden statue and may not recognize it as a word for a short wise saying.
Meaning
Short saying expressing a general truth
Collocations
ancient gnome
|moral gnome
|philosophical gnome
|traditional gnome
Synonyms
aphorism (A more common term for a short, wise saying; 'gnome' in this sense is rare and literary.)
Antonyms
rambling explanation (A long, unfocused explanation is the opposite of a short, concentrated statement of truth.)
Themes
language
|philosophy
|education
|communication
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A very short sentence that gives a general rule, truth, or advice.
A brief, general statement that expresses a practical truth, moral rule, or piece of advice.
Grammar
Dictionary form
gnome
IPA
GB/nˈoʊm/
US/nˈoʊm/
Syllables & stress
gnome (1 syllable)
Stress on 1st syllable (gnome)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: gnome
- Plural: gnomes
Word family
Forms
gnomes
noun
Advanced or less common
gnomish
adjective
Expressions
garden gnome
1/ɡˈɑɹdən nˈoʊm/
fixed phrase
Decorative gnome statue for a garden
A small statue that looks like a gnome, used to decorate a garden.
Examples
- They put a garden gnome next to the front steps.
- Her collection of garden gnomes fills the whole backyard.
- The old garden gnome has been in that corner for years.
gnomes of Zurich
1/nˈoʊmz əv zˈʊɹɪk/
idiom
informal
Swiss bankers seen as secretive controllers
A joking or critical name for Swiss bankers, or sometimes for secret money people, who are seen as quietly controlling world money.
Examples
- Old politicians used to blame the gnomes of Zurich for currency problems.
- He joked that the gnomes of Zurich were probably watching the markets.
- The article says it’s unfair to call modern Swiss bankers the gnomes of Zurich.
lawn gnome
1/lˈɔn nˈoʊm/
fixed phrase
Gnome statue placed on a lawn
A small gnome statue that people put on the grass in front of their house.
Examples
- Someone stole the lawn gnome from their front yard.
- The bright pink lawn gnome makes the neighbors laugh.
- He bought a solar-powered lawn gnome that lights up at night.
traveling gnome
1/tɹˈævəlɪŋ nˈoʊm/
fixed phrase
informal
Lawn gnome taken on trips as a prank
A garden or lawn gnome that people secretly take on trips and photograph in many places as a joke.
Examples
- They started a traveling gnome project and took photos of the statue all over Europe.
- The movie made the idea of a traveling gnome very popular.
- His friends kidnapped his lawn gnome and turned it into a traveling gnome for the summer.