gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la

(usual for sense 1)

ˈgän-də-lə  gän-ˈdō- 

1

: a long narrow flat-bottomed boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

a

: an elongated car attached to the underside of an airship

b

: an often spherical airtight enclosure suspended from a balloon for carrying passengers or instruments

c

: an enclosed car suspended from a cable and used for transporting passengers

especially : one used as a ski lift

3

: a heavy flat-bottomed boat used on New England rivers and on the Ohio and Mississippi rivers

4

: a railroad car with no top, a flat bottom, and fixed sides that is used chiefly for hauling heavy bulk commodities

Illustration of gondola

• gondola 1

Examples of gondola in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Wi-Fi: Free Nearby Attractions: Skiing and snowboarding Loyalty Programs: Sunshine Super Card Parking: Free — located at the bottom of the gondola. —Laura Studarus, Travel + Leisure, 11 Oct. 2024

Located just a few steps away from the downtown gondola, this polished property is perfect for ski season, with amenities like a dedicated concierge team and an on-site wine bar that’s particularly popular for après-ski. —Jared Ranahan, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024

The gondolas take riders 11,500 feet above the ground, giving them a bird's-eye view of the vibrant colors on Mount Humphreys. —Lauren De Young, The Arizona Republic, 28 Sep. 2024

My mother had taken half an Ambien down in the valley station, and then the other half when the gondola began swinging with particular intensity. —Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Sep. 2024

Word History

Etymology

Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel

First Known Use

1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

gondola

noun

gon·​do·​la ˈgän-də-lə ( 

usual for sense 1

) 

gän-ˈdō-

1

: a long narrow boat with a high prow and stern used on the canals of Venice

2

: a railroad car with low sides and no top used for hauling loose freight

3

: an enclosure that hangs from something: as

a

: the part of a balloon in which passengers or instruments are carried

b

: a car that hangs from a cable and is used especially as a lift for skiers