a Eurasian shrub, Ribes uva-crispa (or R. grossularia), having greenish, purple-tinged flowers and ovoid yellow-green or red-purple berries: family Grossulariaceae
See also currant (sense 2)
2.
a.
the berry of this plant
b.
(as modifier)
gooseberry jam
3. British informal
an unwanted single person in a group of couples, esp a third person with a couple (often in the phrase play gooseberry)