Definition of: loofah

(l′fə) noun
1. Any of a genus (Luffa) of Old World, tropical, cucurbitaceous herbs with the male flowers in racemes and the female solitary.
2. The ovate or oblong fruit of this herb, fibrous within, and often used to filter oil and grease from condensed steam, as well as for cleaning and scrubbing. Also loo′fa. Also called dishcloth gourd, vegetable sponge, luffa. [<Arabic lūfah]