cucurbit

noun

cu·​cur·​bit kyü-ˈkər-bət 

1

: a vessel or flask for distillation used with or forming part of an alembic

2

: a plant of the gourd family

Examples of cucurbit in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Use banana water on melons, pumpkins, zucchini, tomatoes, peppers, and other cucurbits or nightshades, or spritz banana water on air plants to give them a little boost. —Lauren Landers, The Spruce, 10 Mar. 2026

Start almost all your seeds except fast-growing cucurbits such as melons and squashes. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Mar. 2026

Honeybees are necessary for pollination of most fruit trees as well as cucurbit vegetables such as cucumber, squash, pumpkin, cantaloupe, and watermelon. —Joshua Siskin, Oc Register, 10 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

Middle English cucurbite, from Anglo-French, from Latin cucurbita gourd

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cucurbit

• sherbet