shiitake

noun

shii·​ta·​ke shē-ˈtä-kē 

variants or less commonly shitake

: a dark Asian mushroom (Lentinula edodes of the family Omphalotaceae) widely cultivated especially on woods of the beech family for its edible flavorful tan to brown cap

Examples of shiitake in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Lion’s mane, reishi, and shiitake mushrooms may be more beneficial than others. —Maggie O'Neill, Verywell Health, 8 Mar. 2026

After serving a fragrant tempura of shiitake, Murai unexpectedly pulled out a bottle of Domaine Takahiko Pinot Noir, explaining apologetically that the winemaker permits him to pair it only with the umami-rich mushroom course. —Alex Halberstadt, Condé Nast Traveler, 25 Feb. 2026

Try the potato pizza with fingerlings, Point Reyes blue cheese, green onion and rosemary, or the mushroom pie with shiitake, oyster and cremini. —Audrey T. Williams, Mercury News, 23 Feb. 2026

The student mushroom farmers harvest edible fungi varieties such as lion’s mane, blue oyster, chestnut, black pearl oyster, comb tooth, and shiitake. —Tribune News Service, Baltimore Sun, 19 Feb. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Japanese, from shii, the Japanese chinquapin + take mushroom

First Known Use

1877, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for shiitake

• awake
• backache
• beefsteak
• betake
• cheesecake
• cupcake
• daybreak
• earthquake
• eastlake
• forsake
• handshake
• headache