gourd

noun

A climbing, often perennial, plant belonging to the pumpkin family, Cucurbitaceae. This includes cucumbers, melons, and marrows. Several different species are given the name of gourd, although the name is used when referring mainly to Cucurbita species. Other species include the bottle gourd, Lagenaria siceraria, the bitter gourd, Momordica charantia, and the snake gourd, Trichosanthes cucumerina. Although some Cucurbita species have fruits that can be used as a vegetable, most are grown for their hard-skinned fruits which, although inedible, have a multitude of uses. See pepo.