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

Turkey Roll-Ups Take a slice of turkey or chicken breast, spread on a bit of cream cheese, and roll it up with a slice of cucumber or avocado for a snack that’s high in protein and healthy fats but low in carbs. —Lauren Manaker Ms, Health, 19 June 2025

The contaminated cucumbers were supplied by Bedner Growers Inc. —Marni Rose McFall, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 June 2025

Extra soft white bread with the crusts removed gets layered with razor-thin English cucumbers (peeled, please, then lightly salted and drained), butter, a light dusting of fine pepper and perhaps a spray of fresh herbs such as dill. —Cnn.com Wire Service, Mercury News, 16 June 2025

Recent outbreaks were linked to eggs, cucumbers and ground beef. —Daniel Wine, CNN Money, 16 June 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