pickle

1 of 3

noun (1)

pick·​le ˈpi-kəl How to pronounce pickle (audio)
1
: a solution or bath for preserving or cleaning: such as
a
: a brine or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved
b
: any of various baths used in industrial cleaning or processing
2
: a difficult situation : plight
could see no way out of the pickle I was inR. L. Stevenson
3
: an article of food that has been preserved in brine or in vinegar
specifically : a cucumber that has been so preserved

pickle

2 of 3

verb

pickled; pickling ˈpi-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pickle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle
2
: to give a light finish to (something, such as furniture) by bleaching or painting and wiping

pickle

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
Scotland : grain, kernel
2
Scotland : a small quantity

Examples of pickle in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Bedfords’ mongers tasted the trio on a few house favorites, and Kat grabbed some olives, pickles, and a wedge of Deer Creek Rattlesnake for pre-dinner snacking. Madison Trapkin, Saveur, 6 Dec. 2023 There are also choices such as uni spaghetti with chili oil and cured yolk and charcuterie boards with a collection of cheeses, meats, fruits, pickles and freshly baked bread. Carlos Rico, San Diego Union-Tribune, 6 Dec. 2023 The ingredient list can also include cream cheese, horseradish, Worcestershire sauce, cayenne, paprika, onions, jalapeños, pickles, and more, depending on who's making it. Anna Theoktisto, Southern Living, 3 Dec. 2023 The lettuce, cheese and pickles have been rethought to be fresher and meltier, and the bun is now a buttery brioche, with the sesame seeds more randomly scattered for a homemade look. Heather Haddon, WSJ, 30 Nov. 2023 The pity pickle gave him the mental and physical strength to live on. Meghan Overdeep, Southern Living, 29 Oct. 2023 Then there was the bevy of snacks (The pickles were a highlight). Jessica Benda, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2023 Other elements of the installation that, well, felt real include an antique cash register, a traditional Greek diner coffee cup and the pickles in a jar atop the counter next to the rugelach. John Carucci, Fortune, 4 Oct. 2023 Best Ever Dill Pickles Why are people pairing pickle juice with alcohol? Christina Manian, Rdn, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2023
Verb
Try them pickled—keeping salt content in consideration. Cynthia Sass, Mph, Rd, Health, 18 Nov. 2023 The Icy Spicy also includes a thick layer of gochujang, to be stirred in; the Icy, which contains more broth, comes with pink vinegar (left over from pickling radishes) and hot mustard, for adding a subtler kick. Hannah Goldfield, The New Yorker, 4 Nov. 2023 Nine people and one bed Mumtaz’s neighborhood is home to about 7,000 working-class people who live in concrete apartment blocks so crowded that life spills out into its narrow lanes, where residents gossip, wash clothes and set out plates of mango to be dried and pickled. Anant Gupta, Washington Post, 22 Sep. 2023 Atla Bistro For dinner, Alta Bistro specializes in seasonal local fare — even going so far as to pickle its own Pemberton vegetables — and dishes inspired by the forest and ocean. Julia Eskins, Travel + Leisure, 3 Nov. 2023 From there, consumers have a wide range of ways to eat it, from fresh salads, pickled, or even powdered and sprinkled on pasta and pizza for a little kick of extra nutrients. Laura Baisas, Popular Science, 26 Oct. 2023 Whether pickled; glazed; or stuffed with crabmeat, sausage, and shrimp, mirlitons are beloved in Louisiana. Nancie McDermott, Southern Living, 24 Oct. 2023 Sub in 1 tablespoon pickling spice in each jar for coriander and mustard seeds. Rita Nader Heikenfeld, The Enquirer, 1 Sep. 2023 The decor is cheap: liquor bottles and dead snakes pickled in jars. Jessica Kiang, Los Angeles Times, 6 Oct. 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pickle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pykyl, pekill sauce, gravy, from or akin to Middle Dutch peeckel brine

Noun (2)

perhaps from Scots pickle to trifle, pilfer

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pickle was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pickle

Cite this Entry

“Pickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickle. Accessed 11 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

pickle

1 of 2 noun
pick·​le ˈpik-əl How to pronounce pickle (audio)
1
: a liquid used for preserving or cleaning
especially : a saltwater or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved : brine
2
: an unpleasant or difficult situation : plight
3
: an article of food (as a cucumber) preserved in a saltwater or vinegar solution

pickle

2 of 2 verb
pickled; pickling ˈpik-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pickle (audio)
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle

More from Merriam-Webster on pickle

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