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 plan would permanently preserve 374 acres of farmland owned by Bullseye Farms, which currently grows sunflowers, cucumbers, tomatoes and alfalfa. — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026

Don’t miss the local catch rubbed in achiote marinade, served over white miso pinto beans, mango-cucumber salsita, and guajillo chili oil. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 7 Oct. 2026

Downstairs, Angelica focuses on all-day European brasserie hits—rabbit rillettes, gravlax, and pickled cucumber salad—while the Bar Gambit leans moodier and more underground, attracting a particular post-work creative Fitzrovia crowd. — Katharine Sohn, Architectural Digest, 2 Oct. 2026

Wiener’s tapestries integrate objects and fragments of her everyday life, among them, cutting boards, old shopping lists, newspapers, cables, and even cucumbers. — Francesca Aton, ARTnews.com, 2 Oct. 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