cucumber
Americannoun
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a creeping plant, Cucumis sativus, of the gourd family, occurring in many cultivated forms.
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the edible, fleshy fruit of this plant, of a cylindrical shape with rounded ends and having a green, warty skin.
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any of various allied or similar plants.
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the fruit of any such plant.
noun
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a creeping cucurbitaceous plant, Cucumis sativus, cultivated in many forms for its edible fruit Compare squirting cucumber
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the cylindrical fruit of this plant, which has hard thin green rind and white crisp flesh
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any of various similar or related plants or their fruits
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very calm; self-possessed
Etymology
Origin of cucumber
1350–1400; Middle English cucumbre < Anglo-French, Old French co ( u ) combre < Latin cucumer-, stem of cucumis; replacing Middle English, Old English cucumer < Latin, as above
Explanation
A cucumber plant is a vine that grows the long, green gourds used to make pickles. Cucumbers are also commonly sliced and added to salads. You may think of cucumbers as vegetables, but they are actually fruits, belonging to the melon family. Raw cucumbers are slightly crunchy and make a great addition to salads and sandwiches, but their flesh is too delicate for cooking. The phrase "cool as a cucumber," or calmly unruffled, comes from the plant's tendency to remain cool in the garden even on a hot day. Before the 18th century, they were known as cowcumbers.
Vocabulary lists containing cucumber
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The smoky cucumber salad offers a refreshing contrast, while the pork belly rice bowl is rich and satisfying enough to stand as a meal on its own.
From Salon • Jun. 11, 2026
It’s awesome because they rub you from head to toe with body oil, then they wash your hair and give you a cucumber and yogurt mask.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
The shingles of cucumber add texture and a veneer of virtue.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 9, 2026
"Now we get a loaf of bread and a cucumber," they calculated, noting that a cucumber costs 100 points and a seeded bloomer costs 150.
From BBC • May 5, 2026
“With cucumber kimchee as well. Truly a felicitous combination. Soft bean curd—crunchy cucumber. Bland bean curd—spicy cucumber. That woman is an artist.”
From "A Single Shard" by Linda Sue Park
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
