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

It’s served with a yogurt ice cream, fermented green strawberries and a sauce made from apple juice and fermented shiitake brine. —Claire Ballor staff Reporter, Dallas Morning News, 11 Feb. 2026

The filing is a combination of pork and shrimp, with bits of shiitake mushroom. —Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 4 Feb. 2026

Dishes range from approachable American classics like burgers, wings and pizzas to items with more international flair such as Korean rib eye, shiitake garlic noodles and spicy za’atar hummus. —Sean Timberlake, Sacbee.com, 3 Feb. 2026

But there are plenty of fish dishes and vegetarian options, too – the tangy wakame salad and light-as-air bao buns stuffed with shiitake and enoki mushrooms were both big hits around the table. —Cassie Doney, Condé Nast Traveler, 11 Jan. 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