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

Otherwise, there’s no spice to help brighten the potatoes, cucumbers and snap peas. —Deputy Food Editor, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026

These cylinders also support cucumbers, bean plants and other climbing crops. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Apr. 2026

The flowers also attract tachinid flies, an important parasitoid of cucumber beetles, which can be quite devastating to cucumber plants. —Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 3 Apr. 2026

Every room smells faintly of cucumber; D.S. & Durga products line the showers and night stands. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Mar. 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