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

Retired and on her own schedule, Toland-Hall also tended to her backyard garden filled with strawberries, cucumbers and tomatoes. —Faith Karimi, CNN Money, 8 Feb. 2026

While tomatoes, melons, and cucumbers are warm-season crops that only grow during hot weather, many of leafy greens tolerate chilly days and can be started very early in the season. —Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 7 Feb. 2026

Between slices of soft bread is layers of crunchy cucumbers, herbs, and cream cheese. —Mary Alice Russell, Southern Living, 6 Feb. 2026

In the ‘80s, hemorrhoid cream was sold as a quick fix for baggy undereyes; in the ‘90s and 2000s, it was chilled cucumber slices. —Georgia Casey, Allure, 6 Feb. 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