Rube Goldberg

adjective

Rube Gold·​berg ˈrüb-ˈgōl(d)-ˌbərg How to pronounce Rube Goldberg (audio)
variants or less commonly Rube Goldbergian
ˈrüb-ˈgōl(d)-ˌbər-gē-ən How to pronounce Rube Goldberg (audio)
-ˌbərg-yən
: accomplishing by complex means what seemingly could be done simply
a kind of Rube Goldberg contraption … with five hundred moving parts—L. T. Grant
also : characterized by such complex means

Word History

Etymology

Reuben (Rube) L. Goldberg †1970 American cartoonist

First Known Use

1928, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of Rube Goldberg was in 1928

Dictionary Entries Near Rube Goldberg

rubefacient

Rube Goldberg

rubel

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Rube Goldberg.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/Rube%20Goldberg. Accessed 27 Nov. 2024.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about Rube Goldberg

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