shiitake

American  

[shee-ee-tah-key] / ˌʃi iˈtɑ keɪ /

noun

shiitake plural

1. a large, meaty, black or dark brown mushroom, Lentinula edodes (orLentinus edodes ), native to eastern Asia and frequently used in Japanese and Chinese cuisine.

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shiitake British  

/ ˌʃɪɪˈtɑːkeɪ /

noun

1. a kind of mushroom widely used in Oriental cookery

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Other Word Forms

Inflected Forms

noun

• shiitake
  plural

Etymology

Origin of shiitake

First recorded in 1875–80; from Japanese, equivalent to shii “oak” + take “mushroom”

Example Sentences

They order $18 mezcal cocktails infused with shiitake mushrooms, red onion and jalapeño herb oil.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 9, 2026

Researchers at The Ohio State University recently discovered that edible fungi, such as shiitake mushrooms, can be cultivated and guided to function as organic memristors.

From Science Daily • Oct. 26, 2025

Unlike shiitake, porcini or white button mushrooms, morels have a distinct appearance with a honeycomb-like top and hollow stem.

From Salon • Mar. 22, 2025

If you can’t find dried porcini, you can substitute dried shiitake or a dried medley of mushrooms, but the flavor will be less bold.

From Washington Post • Mar. 5, 2023

The Japanese are very successful in cultivating a mushroom which they call "Shiitake" or "Lepiota shiitake."

From Student's Hand-book of Mushrooms of America, Edible and Poisonous by Taylor, Thomas