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 restaurant also offers a full bar, with wine, sake and cocktails like the Tokyo Breeze (gin, lime juice, elderflower liqueur, cucumber and mint) and the Lychee Kiss (vodka, lychee, elderflower liquor and lemon). —Connie Ogle updated February 27, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2026

Fertilize heavy-feeding cucumbers regularly throughout the summer. —Heather Bien, Southern Living, 27 Feb. 2026

Depending on the season, fields are filled with a variety of greens, cucumbers, eggplants, tomatoes and peppers, while herbs like basil, black sage, rosemary and marjoram perfume the gardens. —Martine Thompson, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2026

On Friday, district officials showed Kennedy a frito pie, steamed broccoli, berries, apples, salads, peppers and cucumbers that students could choose from for lunch. —Keri Heath, Austin American Statesman, 27 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