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

Pair with roasted pig or with a rice pilaf and shiitake mushrooms. —Tom Mullen, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Veggie options are often afterthoughts at Sacramento dumpling houses; shiitake mushrooms’ earthy flavor bursts out of these ones’ green spinach dough, escorted by cabbage, glass noodles and carrots. —Benjy Egel, Sacramento Bee, 2 Feb. 2025

Add the ham, shiitake mushrooms, peas and cooked rice. —Kate Bradshaw, The Mercury News, 27 Jan. 2025

Editor's tip: Green microalgae and shiitake mushrooms team up to support your skin’s natural building blocks, like collagen and elastin, helping to keep it firm and elastic. —Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 27 Nov. 2024

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