pickle

1 of 3

noun (1)

pick·​le ˈpi-kəl 

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 in

—R. 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 

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

Synonyms

Noun (1)

• predicament
• dilemma
• hole
• bind
• swamp
• jam

Examples of pickle in a Sentence

Noun (1)

well, this is a bit of a pickle we've gotten ourselves into

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Dill is an easy herb to grow and its unique anise flavor complements salads and meats and adds tang to a jar of pickles. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 5 Sep. 2025

The menu item features two patties topped with American cheese, pickles, ketchup and mustard. —James Powel, USA Today, 4 Sep. 2025

Verb

Porytko pickles golden beets from Esoterra Culinary Garden in Boulder, mixing them with pine nuts, figs and herbed smetana to make a chilled borscht that’s a summertime classic. —Miguel Otárola, Denver Post, 21 Aug. 2025

Place cucumbers and bell peppers in a large bowl, and sprinkle with pickling salt. —Stephanie Ganz, Southern Living, 17 Aug. 2025

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

Phrases Containing pickle

• dill pickle

Rhymes for pickle

• fickle
• mickle
• nickel
• nickle
• nicol
• prickle
• sickle
• tickle
• trickle
• ventricle

Kids Definition

pickle

1 of 2 noun

pick·​le ˈpik-əl 

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 

: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle