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

"She's really tough to play, she has a massive serve, big groundstrokes, cool as a cucumber, you get nothing out of her," said Pegula.

From Barron's

My favorite are the cucumber–cream cheese sandwiches on whole-grain bread.

From Literature

There's a bone-white lobster, suctioned up for examination at the surface, and a horned sea cucumber whose mast-like spikes collapse into black spaghetti when it arrives on the ship.

From Barron's

Canned salmon The foundation of one of my favorite lunches: salmon mixed with Kewpie mayonnaise and chili crisp, spooned over rice with cucumber and finished with scallions.

From Salon

Pickled vegetables add a bright, briny snap to otherwise familiar dishes: carrots and jicama, scallions or classic cucumbers become unexpected stars.

From Salon

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