cucumber

noun

cu·​cum·​ber ˈkyü-(ˌ)kəm-bər 

: the fruit of a vine (Cucumis sativus) of the gourd family cultivated as a garden vegetable

also : this vine

Illustration of cucumber

Examples of cucumber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

The restaurant also serves a handful of low-ABV cocktails ($14-$17) like the bon vivant, made with shochu, dry vermouth, oleo saccharum, Pescadero sea salt and bay laurel oil; or the low tide, featuring an aloe aperitif, cucumber-parsley cordial and tonic. —Kate Bradshaw, Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2025

Salads come with a choice of the same proteins, with lettuce, tomatoes, onions, cucumbers, olives, feta and pita. —Regina Elling, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Nov. 2025

Also, a through-line of the episode is that one of the stews discovered that someone had packed and brought a cucumber with them, the reason for which remains a mystery. —Tom Smyth, Vulture, 5 Nov. 2025

In this hearty salad, stale bread is made soft again with water and/or vinegar, and tossed with fresh tomatoes, basil, onions, cucumbers and olive oil. —Francesca Giuliani Hoffman, CNN Money, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French cucumbre, from Latin cucumer-, cucumis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cucumber

• cucumber mosaic
• cucumber tree
• sea cucumber
• spotted cucumber beetle
• squirting cucumber

Kids Definition

cucumber

noun

cu·​cum·​ber ˈkyü-(ˌ)kəm-bər 

: the long fleshy usually many-seeded green-skinned fruit of a vine of the gourd family that is grown as a garden vegetable

also : this vine

Medical Definition

cucumber

noun

cu·​cum·​ber ˈkyü-(ˌ)kəm-bər 

: the fruit of a vine (Cucumis sativus) of the gourd family that is cultivated as a garden vegetable and that has diuretic seeds

also : this vine