zest

American  

[zest] / zɛst /

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.

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verb (used with object)

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

zest British  

/ 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

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of zest

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

Example Sentences

Off heat, fold in lemon zest — the volatile oils hit the warm crumbs and bloom instantly, perfuming them.

From Salon

She says it not only gave "her zest for life" back – it saved her marriage.

From BBC

A microplane is core to the way I cook because I use a lot of lemon zest and grated garlic.

From The Wall Street Journal

Here, she writes, “it is possible to live with great zest, to have red blood and delicate joys.”

From Los Angeles Times

Thaipusam is marked with particular zest in multicultural Malaysia, a Muslim-majority nation where ethnic Indians make up about seven percent of the 34 million population.

From Barron's

Related Words

• flavoring
• ginger
• salt
• seasoning
• spice