luffa

/ˈlʌfə/

Other forms: luffas

Definitions of luffa

1. noun

   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: dishcloth gourd, rag gourd, sponge gourd, strainer vine

   types:

   Luffa cylindrica, loofah, vegetable sponge

   the loofah climber that has cylindrical fruit

   Luffa acutangula, angled loofah, sing-kwa

   loofah of Pakistan; widely cultivated throughout tropics

   type of:

   vine

   a plant with a weak stem that derives support from climbing, twining, or creeping along a surface
2. noun

   the dried fibrous part of the fruit of a plant of the genus Luffa; used as a washing sponge or strainer
   synonyms: loofa, loofah, loufah sponge

   type of:

   fiber, fibre

   a slender and greatly elongated substance capable of being spun into yarn