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 standard dressing at the 51-year-old stand consists of mustard, relish, onions, tomato, pickle spears, and celery salt, and adds lettuce, green peppers, and cucumber slices (hot peppers are available on request). — Amy Cavanaugh, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Nov. 2026

Potatoes, cucumbers and melons can handle a firmer scrub, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends using a clean produce brush on firm produce. — Ryan Brennan, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 3 Nov. 2026

Sturdier produce such as potatoes, cucumbers and melons can stand up to more friction, and the Food and Drug Administration recommends scrubbing it with a clean produce brush. — Ryan Brennan, Miami Herald, 3 Nov. 2026

There’s no iceberg salad here; sides include mac salad and marinated cucumbers, dishes standard to plate lunch, Hawaii’s answer to the meat-and-three. — Allecia Vermillion, Bon Appetit Magazine, 2 Nov. 2026

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