cucumber

American  

[kyoo-kuhm-ber] / ˈkyu kʌm bər /

noun

1. a creeping plant, Cucumis sativus, of the gourd family, occurring in many cultivated forms.

2. the edible, fleshy fruit of this plant, of a cylindrical shape with rounded ends and having a green, warty skin.

3. any of various allied or similar plants.

4. the fruit of any such plant.

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cucumber British  

/ ˈkjuːˌkʌmbə /

noun

1. a creeping cucurbitaceous plant, Cucumis sativus, cultivated in many forms for its edible fruit Compare squirting cucumber

2. the cylindrical fruit of this plant, which has hard thin green rind and white crisp flesh

3. any of various similar or related plants or their fruits

4. very calm; self-possessed

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cucumber Idioms  

1. see cool as a cucumber.

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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

Example Sentences

After a warm and ice-cold shower, he cleanses his face and rubs a frozen cucumber over it, which he says will reduce puffiness, acne and brighten his skin.

From BBC

At 11 p.m. that night he arrived at the hospital with 40 portions of rice, chicken, and a simple salad of cucumbers and onions.

From The Wall Street Journal

The first is a savory dip for vegetables — lately carrot and cucumber matchsticks or sugar snap peas.

From Salon

"Just yesterday we found a kind of type of swimming sea cucumber, and we still don't know what it is," he added, calling the diversity he's seen "really, really astonishing".

From BBC

If I was embarrassed, I’m sure she was too, although, knowing her, she would be sitting as cool as a cucumber.

From Literature

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