: 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 WebTake a Romantic Gondola Ride For a truly romantic experience, book a gondola ride at the Miami Beach Botanical Garden.—Jacob Wisda, Miami Herald, 4 June 2024 People begin running out of the way of this, again, bizarrely heavy gondola attached to a balloon … except for Penelope.—Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 16 May 2024 The gondola’s beautiful decorations and the gondolier’s gentle rowing add to the romantic ambiance.—Jacob Wisda, Miami Herald, 4 June 2024 With the snow gone, the resort showcases its mountain bike trails, Via Ferrata climbs, and sightseeing opportunities from the Aerial Tram and gondolas.—Lydia Mansel, Condé Nast Traveler, 12 Jan. 2024 See all Example Sentences for gondola
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'gondola.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel
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