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

Key ingredients: Ceramides, rosehip fruit extract, panax ginseng root extract, licorice root extract, cucumber fruit water How to apply: Morphe recommends using before and after makeup application, by spraying at eight inches from your face. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 3 Mar. 2025

Tomato cages can be used to keep indeterminate tomato plants, peas, pole beans, or cucumber vines off the soil, helping prevent fruit rot and excessive insect damage. —Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025

The Green Goodness features gin, wheatgrass, cucumber and melon juice, while the Pisco Morada is made with purple corn, pineapple, lime and spices. —Connie Ogle, Miami Herald, 27 Feb. 2025

Traditional tea sandwiches get a luxurious makeover with egg salad infused with black truffle and delicate cucumber sandwiches paired with herb remoulade. —Jordi Lippe-McGraw, Forbes, 26 Feb. 2025

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