1. Any of several tropical annual climbers having large yellow flowers and edible young fruits; grown commercially for the mature fruit's dried fibrous interior that is used as a sponge
   "The luffa is valued for its natural sponge-like properties";
   - dishcloth gourd, sponge gourd, rag gourd, strainer vine
    
2. The dried fibrous part of the fruit of a plant of the genus Luffa
   "She used a natural luffa sponge in the shower";
   - loofa, loofah, loufah sponge

Derived forms: luffas

Type of: fiber [US], fibre [Brit, Cdn], vine

Part of: genus Luffa

Encyclopedia: Luffa