cucumber

noun

cu·​cum·​ber ˈkyü-(ˌ)kəm-bər 

: the fruit of a vine (Cucumis sativus) of the gourd family cultivated as a garden vegetable

also : this vine

Illustration of cucumber

Examples of cucumber in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Tomatoes need cages, cucumbers need a trellis. —Nan Sterman, San Diego Union-Tribune, 2 May 2026

Creamy Caesar dressing, cucumber, tomatoes, croutons, and parsley make this simple salad recipe one guests will easily recognize and enjoy. —Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 1 May 2026

Direct seed sweet corn, beans, squashes, pumpkins, cucumbers, and others after your last frost date. —Andy Wilcox, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 May 2026

An early menu of the food offerings posted by an online reviewer includes tea sandwiches like ham and mustard and cucumber and duck, as well as tartlets with seasonal citrus or pear and lychees. —John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 29 Apr. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French cucumbre, from Latin cucumer-, cucumis

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing cucumber

• cucumber mosaic
• cucumber tree
• sea cucumber
• spotted cucumber beetle
• squirting cucumber

Kids Definition

cucumber

noun

cu·​cum·​ber ˈkyü-(ˌ)kəm-bər 

: the long fleshy usually many-seeded green-skinned fruit of a vine of the gourd family that is grown as a garden vegetable

also : this vine

Medical Definition

cucumber

noun

cu·​cum·​ber ˈkyü-(ˌ)kəm-bər 

: the fruit of a vine (Cucumis sativus) of the gourd family that is cultivated as a garden vegetable and that has diuretic seeds

also : this vine