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

Standout dishes like the shiitake tempeh with a kimchi emulsion, carrots and a miso sauce and the quinoa risotto with asparagus, coconut, peach chutney and ginger are a journey through textures, colors and flavors. —Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 2 June 2026

It’s formulated with a blend of shiitake, turkey tail, lion’s mane, cordyceps, reishi and tremella mushrooms, plus adaptogens amla, ashwagandha, astragalus, goji, maca, panax ginseng, Siberian ginseng and schisandra. —Ryan Brennan, Charlotte Observer, 7 May 2026

The spongy underside of the cap has pores—rather than gills as seen in Agaricales mushrooms such as shiitake and portobello—which are the openings to tubes through which spores exit the mushroom. —Encyclopedia Britannica, 1 May 2026

Do not miss the mushroom campanelli with shiitake and oyster mushrooms. —Karon Warren, AJC.com, 30 Apr. 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
• forsake
• gouache
• handshake
• headache