zest

[zest]

noun

1. keen relish; hearty enjoyment; gusto.

2. an agreeable or piquant flavor imparted to something.

3. anything added to impart flavor, enhance one's appreciation, etc.

4. piquancy; interest; charm.

   Synonyms: tang, spice

5. liveliness or energy; animating spirit.

6. the peel, especially the thin outer peel, of a citrus fruit used for flavoring.

   lemon zest.

verb (used with object)

1. to give zest, relish, or piquancy to.

zest

/ zɛst /

noun

1. invigorating or keen excitement or enjoyment

   a zest for living

2. added interest, flavour, or charm; piquancy

   her presence gave zest to the occasion

3. something added to give flavour or relish

4. the peel or skin of an orange or lemon, used as flavouring in drinks, etc

verb

1. (tr) to give flavour, interest, or piquancy to

Other Word Forms

• zestless adjective
• zestfully adverb
• zesty adjective
• zestful adjective
• zestfulness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of zest¹

1665–75; < French zest (now zeste ) orange or lemon peel used for flavoring < ?

Word History and Origins

Origin of zest¹

C17: from French zeste peel of citrus fruits used as flavouring, of unknown origin

Example Sentences

I used blood orange and lemon, scraping their zest and squeezing their juice into the batter, which is enriched with more than a half-cup of olive oil.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

It means “the joy of living,” and refers to the kind of cheerful, nonstop zest for life that stops just short of optoomuchism and makes a person a sheer pleasure to be around.

Read more on Literature

"I can't believe he's 107 and still going strong. He's got such zest for life…he's a witty character and such fun to be around."

Read more on BBC

Or take a bright yuzu marmalade: pair it with black sesame seeds, flaked coconut, a drizzle of coconut cream, a swirl of tahini, and a scatter of lime zest.

Read more on Salon

Once you know those, you’re free to riff — to add lemon zest or nutmeg or a fistful of herbs — the culinary equivalent of adding fringe.

Read more on Salon

Related Words

• flavoring 
• ginger 
• salt 
• seasoning 
• spice