cucumber

[kyoo-kuhm-ber]

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.

cucumber

/ 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cucumber¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of cucumber¹

C14: from Latin cucumis, of unknown origin

Idioms and Phrases

see cool as a cucumber.

Example Sentences

The rocks are densely covered by Bathymodiolus mussels, tube worms, shrimp, amphipods, and vivid purple sea cucumbers.

Read more on Science Daily

She offered him a sandwich of thin-sliced cucumber and cream cheese.

Read more on Literature

There were ham sandwiches on crusty brown bread, and cucumber and cream cheese sandwiches on white bread with the crusts trimmed off.

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Fermenting pickle slices was challenging: When the bacteria eat the soft inside of the cucumber, the result can be a “mushy” chip.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

We started with a refreshing cucumber salad dressed in chili and sesame oil, then moved on to Kurobuta pork soup dumplings, shrimp and Kurobuta pork spicy wontons and more — each bite expertly balanced and juicy.

Read more on Salon

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