gout: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
C1formal, medical
Quick answer
What does “gout” mean?
A metabolic disease characterized by painful inflammation of the joints, especially the big toe, caused by deposits of urate crystals.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
A metabolic disease characterized by painful inflammation of the joints, especially the big toe, caused by deposits of urate crystals.
A drop, spot, or clot (archaic); a sudden, violent outburst or attack (e.g., 'a gout of flame').
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning. The archaic/literary use is equally rare in both varieties.
Connotations
Strongly associated with historical figures, rich diet, and ageing. Often humorously stereotyped.
Frequency
Similar frequency in medical/formal contexts.
Grammar
How to Use “gout” in a Sentence
suffer from goutbe diagnosed with goutan attack/flare of gouta sufferer of gouttrigger goutVocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “gout” in a Sentence
verb
British English
- His toe is goutted up terribly. (informal, non-standard)
American English
- He's all gouted up. (informal, non-standard)
adjective
British English
- He has a gouty big toe.
- gouty deposits
American English
- She suffers from gouty arthritis.
- gouty symptoms
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
Rare, except perhaps in health insurance contexts.
Academic
Common in medical, historical, and biological texts.
Everyday
Used when discussing health, family history, or ailments humorously.
Technical
Specific medical term with defined diagnostic criteria (e.g., hyperuricemia, tophi).
Vocabulary
Synonyms of “gout”
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms of “gout”
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “gout”
- Misspelling as 'gought' or 'gowt'.
- Confusing with 'gout' meaning 'drop' in old texts.
- Using it as a general synonym for any arthritis.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, gout is a common and complex form of inflammatory arthritis.
Gout is caused by elevated levels of uric acid in the blood (hyperuricemia), leading to the formation of urate crystals in joints.
While there is no permanent cure, gout is highly manageable with medication and lifestyle changes to prevent flare-ups.
This is a historical nickname because gout was associated with the rich diet (high in meat, alcohol) historically only affordable by royalty and the wealthy.
A metabolic disease characterized by painful inflammation of the joints, especially the big toe, caused by deposits of urate crystals.
Gout is usually formal, medical in register.
Gout: in British English it is pronounced /ɡaʊt/, and in American English it is pronounced /ɡaʊt/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Rich man's disease (colloquial stereotype for gout)”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
GOUT makes you **GOUT** (cry out) in pain because of your big TOE.
Conceptual Metaphor
DISEASE IS AN INVADER / PAIN IS A SHARP OBJECT ('a sudden, sharp attack of gout').
Practice
Quiz
Which of these is a key characteristic of gout?