loofa

(lū'fə, lŭf'ə)
n.

1. Any of several Old World tropical vines of the genus Luffa, having cylindrical fruit with a fibrous, spongelike interior.
2. The dried, fibrous part of the loofa fruit, used as a washing sponge or as a filter. Also called dishcloth gourd, vegetable sponge.

[Arabic lūfa, singulative of lūf.]

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Young fruit of the curcubit Luffa acutangula is edible, but becomes too bitter as it matures.

a bath or shower sponge; the dried fibrous part of the gourd-like fruit of a plant of the genus Luffa

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The noun has one meaning:

Meaning #1: any of several tropical annual climbers having large yellow flowers and edible young fruits; grown commercially for the mature fruit's dried fibrous interior that is used as a sponge
  Synonyms: luffa, sponge gourd, rag gourd, strainer vine

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