Illustration of gondola
- gondola 1
gondola
noun
gon·do·la 
gän-ˈdō-
(usual for sense 1)
ˈgän-də-lə gän-ˈdō- 1
: 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
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web The nonprofit Friends of Little Cottonwood Canyon opposes the gondola. 
Jacob Scholl, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Our favorite nighttime destination was Heavenly Village, and collection of shops, restaurants, outdoor music, and a skating rink by the California-Nevada line on Route 50, not far from the terminal for the Heavenly gondola. David Mckay Wilson, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2022 In summer, ride the gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain and mountain bike or hike off the 11,053-foot summit. Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 10 Oct. 2021 By contrast, buses could not move much more than 1,000 people per hour, less than a third the rate of the gondola. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 June 2022 At Nevis Range, there was no snow at the base station of the gondola. Simon Akam, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2017 Providence's gondola rides are authentic, leisurely cruises through the winding canals. Lea Lane, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Couples experience a beautiful mountain while guests get to ride the gondola to see resplendent views and can also spend time together eating and shopping in the Village, playing golf or spending the day mountain biking before the wedding. Roger Sands, Forbes, 19 July 2022 How would the gondola affect the value of the land and surrounding areas? Jacob Scholl, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 July 2022 See More
Jacob Scholl, The Salt Lake Tribune, 1 Sep. 2022 Our favorite nighttime destination was Heavenly Village, and collection of shops, restaurants, outdoor music, and a skating rink by the California-Nevada line on Route 50, not far from the terminal for the Heavenly gondola. David Mckay Wilson, USA TODAY, 9 Mar. 2022 In summer, ride the gondola to the top of Mammoth Mountain and mountain bike or hike off the 11,053-foot summit. Megan Michelson, Outside Online, 10 Oct. 2021 By contrast, buses could not move much more than 1,000 people per hour, less than a third the rate of the gondola. Brian Maffly, The Salt Lake Tribune, 23 June 2022 At Nevis Range, there was no snow at the base station of the gondola. Simon Akam, Outside Online, 26 Oct. 2017 Providence's gondola rides are authentic, leisurely cruises through the winding canals. Lea Lane, Forbes, 11 Aug. 2022 Couples experience a beautiful mountain while guests get to ride the gondola to see resplendent views and can also spend time together eating and shopping in the Village, playing golf or spending the day mountain biking before the wedding. Roger Sands, Forbes, 19 July 2022 How would the gondola affect the value of the land and surrounding areas? Jacob Scholl, The Salt Lake Tribune, 12 July 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Italian dialect (Venetian), probably from Middle Greek kontoura small vessel
First Known Use
1549, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
gondola
noun
gon·do·la
ˈgän-də-lə,
2 and 3 also gän-ˈdō-lə
1
: a long narrow boat used in the canals of Venice, Italy
2
: a railroad freight car with no top
3
: an enclosure that hangs from a balloon or cable and carries passengers or instruments
gondolas
noun
as in ferryboats
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- ferryboats
- ferries
- taxis
- towboats
- tugboats
- barges
- taxies
- workboats
- keelboats
- whaleboats
- water taxis
- cobles
- bankers
- tugs
- gillnetters
- keels
- luggers
- longboats
- hookers
- seiners
- riverboats
- lifeboats
- tubs
- bumboats
- whalers
- scallopers
- hovercrafts
- lighters
- shrimpers
- draggers
- cutters
- airboats
- narrow boats
- motorboats
- tender
- hoys
- yawls
- trawlers
- hydroplanes
- houseboats
- cockleshells
- powerboats
- jolly boats
- hydrofoils
- outboards
- auxiliaries
- inboards
- cruisers
- launches
- air-cushion vehicles
