pickle

1 of 3

noun (1)

pick·​le ˈpi-kəl How to pronounce pickle (audio)
1
: a solution or bath for preserving or cleaning: such as
a
: a brine or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved
b
: any of various baths used in industrial cleaning or processing
2
: a difficult situation : plight
could see no way out of the pickle I was inR. L. Stevenson
3
: an article of food that has been preserved in brine or in vinegar
specifically : a cucumber that has been so preserved

pickle

2 of 3

verb

pickled; pickling ˈpi-k(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pickle (audio)

transitive verb

1
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle
2
: to give a light finish to (something, such as furniture) by bleaching or painting and wiping

pickle

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
Scotland : grain, kernel
2
Scotland : a small quantity

Examples of pickle in a Sentence

Noun (1) well, this is a bit of a pickle we've gotten ourselves into
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
On the side is a plate with iceberg lettuce, a slice of tomato, a slice of red onion and a pickle along with a cup of Thousand Island dressing. Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 26 Oct. 2024 Key Background McDonald’s Quarter Pounder, one of the chain’s most popular burgers alongside the Big Mac, is 520 calories and contains a quarter pound 100% beef patty, American cheese, ketchup, pickle slices, onions and mustard. Antonio Pequeño Iv, Forbes, 23 Oct. 2024
Verb
Walmart, Save-a-Lot and Shop N Save (cucumber, green bell pepper and pickling cucumber only). Mike Snider, USA TODAY, 25 July 2024 Cooking or pickling peppers in vinegar may tone down their spiciness. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 25 Sep. 2024 See all Example Sentences for pickle 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pickle.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English pykyl, pekill sauce, gravy, from or akin to Middle Dutch peeckel brine

Noun (2)

perhaps from Scots pickle to trifle, pilfer

First Known Use

Noun (1)

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1526, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Noun (2)

1552, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of pickle was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near pickle

Cite this Entry

“Pickle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pickle. Accessed 5 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

pickle

1 of 2 noun
pick·​le ˈpik-əl How to pronounce pickle (audio)
1
: a liquid used for preserving or cleaning
especially : a saltwater or vinegar solution in which foods are preserved : brine
2
: an unpleasant or difficult situation : plight
3
: an article of food (as a cucumber) preserved in a saltwater or vinegar solution

pickle

2 of 2 verb
pickled; pickling ˈpik-(ə-)liŋ How to pronounce pickle (audio)
: to treat, preserve, or clean in or with a pickle

More from Merriam-Webster on pickle

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