Dictionary

cucumber en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• /ˈkjuːˌkʌmbə/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkjuːˌkʊmbə/ (Northern-England) without the foot-strut split
• (US) audio
• [ˈkʰjʊu̯ˌkʰʊ̈mbə] (Northern-England) without the foot-strut split
• [ˈkʰjʊu̯ˌkʰʌ̈mbɚ] ~ [ˈkʰjʊu̯ˌkʰʌ̈mbɹ̩] (General-American)
• [ˈkʰaʊ̯ˌkʰʌmbəɹ] (obsolete)
• [ˈkʰjʊu̯ˌkʰʌmbə] (Received-Pronunciation)
• /ˈkjʉˌkʌmbəɹ/ (Scotland)
• /ˈkaʊˌkʌmbəɹ/ (obsolete)
• [ˈkjʉˌkʌmbəɹ] (Scotland)
• /ˈkjuˌkʌmbɚ/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English cucumer, cucumber, from Old French cocombre, ultimately from Latin cucumis, cucumerem (possibly through an Old Occitan intermediate). Probably of Pre-Italic substrate origin. First attested in the late 14c. Displaced native English earthapple (see which for more), which has since acquired other senses.

Meanings

1. (countable, uncountable) A vine in the gourd family, Cucumis sativus.
   • ASPARAGUS, cauliflowers, imperial Sileſia, royal and cabbage lettuces, burnet, purſlain, cucumbers, naſturtian flowers, peaſe and beans ſown in October, artichokes, ſcarlet ſtrawberries, and kidney beans. 1767, A Lady [Hannah Glasse], The Art of Cookery Made Plain and Eaſy […] , page 326:
2. (countable, uncountable) The edible fruit of this plant, having a green rind and crisp white flesh.
   • Probably on account of its phallic formation, the cucumber is often assumed to have aphrodisiac qualities. 1961, Harry E. Wedeck, Dictionary of Aphrodisiacs, New York: The Citadel Press, page 71:
   • […]for it has been a common ſaying of phyſicians in England, that a cucumber ſhould be well ſliced, and dreſſed with pepper and vinegar, and then thrown out, as good for nothing. 1785, James Boswell, quoting Samuel Johnson, Journal of a Tour to the Hebrides with Samuel Johnſon […] , London: Henry Baldwin, page 356:
   • "Why, pepper and salt your reasons!" cried Curl, forgetting to look at the door for a moment: "your pamphlet has talent; but talent is like a cucumber, nothing without the dressing. You must be more personal." 1837, L[etitia] E[lizabeth] L[andon], “Publishing”, in Ethel Churchill: Or, The Two Brides. […], volume II, London: Henry Colburn, […], →OCLC, page 14:
   • To the bowl, add cucumber, cabbage and carrot. 2025 March 12, David Tanis, “Cucumber-Cabbage Salad With Sesame”, in New York Times Cooking, New York, N.Y.: The New York Times Company, →ISSN, →OCLC, archived from the original on 13 Mar 2025:
3. (countable, figuratively, informal, uncountable) A person who is calm and self-possessed.
   • That Wolf is one cool cucumber. 2002, Margaret Fisher, Putting on Mock Trials, page 29:
   • "You're smart," says Irv, pointing at her and nodding his head. "A smart cucumber." 2018, Derek B. Miller, American By Day, page 65:
   • The guy's a real cucumber. 1999, Mark Grantham, The Brewery, page 275:

Forms

Coordinates

zucchini · gherkin · squash · pickle · courgette · marrow

Deriveds

snake cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumberfish (Affixed and blended forms) · wild cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · yard-long cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · zombie's cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · sea cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · lemon cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumbertini (Affixed and blended forms) · striped cucumber beetle (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · bitter cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · squirting cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumber fish (Affixed and blended forms) · cucumberish (Expressions with this term at the beginning) · telegraph cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · banded cucumber beetle (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · exploding cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · Armenian cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · slicing cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · smacked cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · serpent cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumber time (Affixed and blended forms) · cucumberlike (Expressions with this term at the beginning) · cucumberless (Expressions with this term at the beginning) · calm as a cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · burr cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumber tree (Affixed and blended forms) · aardvark cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumber mullet (Expressions with this term at the beginning) · cucumberita (Affixed and blended forms) · Qcumber (derived terms) · devil's cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · star cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · gemsbok cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumbery (Expressions with this term at the beginning) · cucumber beetle (Affixed and blended forms) · cucumber mosaic virus (Affixed and blended forms) · musk cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumber herring (Expressions with this term at the beginning) · maroon cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · spotted cucumber beetle (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cool as a cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · stuffing cucumber (Expressions with this term at the middle or end) · cucumberade (Affixed and blended forms)

Descendants

kohkompaninawak · ciwcymbr · ᎦᎦᎹ · kukomber · cacombra · kukamba · îkhukhámba · kukama

Relateds

cucumiform

Synonyms

cuke · cumber

Translations (317)

hi त्रपुस (plant) · ca cogombre (edible fruit) · aeb فَقُّوسْ (plant) · ny mnkhaka (plant) · mk краставица (edible fruit) · vi dưa chuột (edible fruit) · rsk огурка (edible fruit) · cy cucumer (edible fruit) · cs okurka (plant) · sl kumara (plant) · grc σίκυς (edible fruit) · kn ಸವುತೆ (plant) · grc σίκυος (plant) · nds Gurk (plant) · ug تەرخەمەك (edible fruit) · es pepino (plant) · cv хӑяр (edible fruit) · cop ⲃⲟⲛϯ (plant) · kk бәдірен (edible fruit) · kw kukomber (edible fruit) · grc σίκυς (plant) · hak 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · id ketimun (plant) · kxd timun (edible fruit) · hu kígyóuborka (edible fruit) · fo agurka (plant) · km ត្រសក់ (edible fruit) · hu uborka (edible fruit) · crh hıyar (plant) · fur cudumar (edible fruit) · mt ħjara (edible fruit) · fo agurk (plant) · csb gùrka (edible fruit) · pt pepino (plant) · wuu 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · tr salatalık (plant) · tl pipino (edible fruit) · af komkommer (edible fruit) · yi אוגערקע (plant) · nmn ʘna̰e (edible fruit) · shn တႅင် (plant) · rm cucumera (edible fruit) · sw mtango (plant) · kk қияр (edible fruit) · gah gamó (edible fruit) · mn өргөст хэмх (edible fruit) · uk огіро́к (plant) · hy վարունգ (plant) · sip ག་ཉོན (plant) · ur کِھیرا (edible fruit) · kpv ӧгурец (plant) · vi dưa leo (edible fruit) · hi त्रपुस (edible fruit) · cmn 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · si පිපිඤ්ඤ (edible fruit) · as তিয়ঁহ (plant) · mn огурцы (edible fruit) · jv timun (edible fruit) · nb agurk (edible fruit) · az xiyar (plant) · nl komkommer (edible fruit) · sk uhorka (edible fruit) · pon kiuhri (edible fruit) · kzg 胡瓜 (plant) · mww dib (plant) · uk огіро́к (edible fruit) · hi खीरा (plant) · as তিয়ঁহ (edible fruit) · ca cogombrera (plant) · grc σικυός (edible fruit) · id timun (plant) · is agúrka (edible fruit) · pa ਖੀਰਾ (edible fruit) · dsb górka (edible fruit) · tts หมากแตง (plant) · enm cucumer (plant) · ta வெள்ளரிக்காய் (edible fruit) · cjy 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · id timun (edible fruit) · uli kiuyiuri (plant) · inc-oas খিৰি (edible fruit) · sou แตงเบา (plant) · ang eorþæppel (edible fruit) · io kukombro (edible fruit) · mww dib (edible fruit) · win wicąwą sake xaarek (edible fruit) · he מְלָפְפוֹן (edible fruit) · io kukombriero (plant) · he מְלָפְפוֹן (plant) · haw kaʻukama (edible fruit) · nan-hbl 刺瓜 (edible fruit) · cmn 青瓜 (plant) · ckb خەیار (edible fruit) · cy ciwcymer (edible fruit) · fr concombre (edible fruit) · prs خِیَار (edible fruit) · sw tango (edible fruit) · am ኪያር (edible fruit) · alt огурчын (edible fruit) · oc cogombre (edible fruit) · eo kukumo (plant) · pl ogórek (plant) · sh кра̏ставац (edible fruit) · ba ҡыяр (plant) · pa ਖੀਰਾ (plant) · nn agurk (plant) · mdf куяр (edible fruit) · ceb pepino (edible fruit) · prs بَادْرَنْگ (edible fruit) · ka კიტრი (plant) · kpv ӧгуреч (plant) · be агуро́к (plant) · sl kumara (edible fruit) · gl cogombro (plant) · egy bA-Z1: -d:t*Z5-Hn (edible fruit) · yue 青瓜 (edible fruit) · vec zetriol (edible fruit) · vi dưa chuột (plant) · win wicąwąssake xaarek (edible fruit) · arz خيارة (edible fruit) · dng хуонгуа (edible fruit) · cmn 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (plant) · ru огуре́ц (edible fruit) · sv gurka (plant) · th แตงกวา (plant) · km តាសក់ (edible fruit) · pt pepineiro (plant) · crs kokonm (edible fruit) · bho खीरा (edible fruit) · ky бадыраң (edible fruit) · sah огурсу (edible fruit) · tk hyýar (edible fruit) · clt paziy (edible fruit) · tl pipino (plant) · yue 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · kk қияр (plant) · pl ogórek (edible fruit) · pa کھِیرا (plant) · sm kukama (edible fruit) · sh krȁstavac (edible fruit) · ryu 胡瓜 (edible fruit) · cdo 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · xal хаяр (edible fruit) · ang hwerhwette (edible fruit) · nod บะแต๋ง (plant) · tg бодиринг (edible fruit) · kmr arû (edible fruit) · km តាសក់ (plant) · dar хияр (edible fruit) · ryu 胡瓜 (plant) · yue 青瓜 (plant) · ja 胡瓜 (plant) · mrw pipino (edible fruit) · ja 胡瓜 (edible fruit) · ml വെള്ളരിക്ക (edible fruit) · ga cúcamar (edible fruit) · sh кра̏ставац (plant) · sou แตงเบา (edible fruit) · ba ҡыяр (edible fruit) · lzz შუკა (plant) · bg кра́ставица (plant) · hy վարունգ (edible fruit) · lv gurķis (plant) · gl cogombro (edible fruit) · arz خيار (edible fruit) · sv gurka (edible fruit) · ko 오이 (edible fruit) · nn agurk (edible fruit) · fr concombre (plant) · khb ᦶᦎᧂᦌᧂᧉ (edible fruit) · ta வெள்ளரி (plant) · cy ciwcymbr (edible fruit) · et kurk (edible fruit) · sh krȁstavac (plant) · ja キュウリ (edible fruit) · de Gurke (plant) · fa-ira خِیار (edible fruit) · mfe kokom (plant) · xmf კინტირი (plant) · lv gurķis (edible fruit) · nl komkommer (plant) · cmn 青瓜 (edible fruit) · az xiyar (edible fruit) · nv taʼneeskʼání áłtsʼóózígíí (edible fruit) · hi ककड़ी (edible fruit) · tts บักแตง (edible fruit) · so qajaar (plant) · cs okurka (edible fruit) · kum хыяр (plant) · eu luzoker (plant) · oc pepin (plant) · cy cucumer (plant) · ug تەرخەمەك (plant) · kl agurki (edible fruit) · pon kiuhri (plant) · my သခွား (edible fruit) · yi אוגערקע (edible fruit) · is gúrka (edible fruit) · id mentimun (plant) · tr hıyar (edible fruit) · be агуро́к (edible fruit) · it cetriolo (plant) · ti ቺትርዮለ (edible fruit) · unm kùkumës (edible fruit) · te దోసకాయ (edible fruit) · grc ἀγγούριον (edible fruit) · nb agurk (plant) · xdq хийа́р (edible fruit) · ast pepinu (edible fruit) · ca cogombre (plant) · vo küg (plant) · enm cucumer (edible fruit) · ro castravete (plant) · id mentimun (edible fruit) · da agurk (edible fruit) · te దోస (plant) · sq trangull m kastravec (edible fruit) · pzh baxat (plant) · kmr xiyar (edible fruit) · sq kastravec (plant) · nod บะแต๋ง (edible fruit) · fo gurka (plant) · mt ħjar (plant) · dng хуонгуа (plant) · aii ܚܝܼܵܪܵܐ (edible fruit) · lo ໝາກແຕງ (edible fruit) · ga cúcamar (plant) · tcy ತೆಕ್ಕರೆ (plant) · de Gurke (edible fruit) · pa کھِیرا (edible fruit) · ti ኩኩምበር (edible fruit) · pdt Gurkj (edible fruit) · nrf cocombre (edible fruit) · kum хыяр (edible fruit) · kzg 胡瓜 (edible fruit) · ce наьрс (edible fruit) · tts บักแตง (plant) · it cetriolo (edible fruit) · kn ಸೌತೆಬಳ್ಳಿ (plant) · cy chwerwddwr (edible fruit) · ka კიტრი (edible fruit) · la cucumis (plant) · km ត្រសក់ (plant) · eo kukumo (edible fruit) · da agurk (plant) · th แตงกวา (edible fruit) · ckb ئاروو (edible fruit) · za lwgbieng (edible fruit) · sk uhorka (plant) · el αγγουριά (plant) · hi खीरा (edible fruit) · kn ಸೌತೆಕಾಯಿ (edible fruit) · ru огуре́ц (plant) · dar хияр (plant) · ast pepinu (plant) · hi ककड़ी (plant) · es pepino (edible fruit) · tt кыяр (edible fruit) · bg кра́ставица (edible fruit) · mg kitsaotsao (plant) · rgn ziẓarnël (plant) · my သခွား (plant) · gd cularan (edible fruit) · fi kurkku (plant) · ar خِيَار (plant) · grc σίκυος (edible fruit) · mr काकडी (plant) · el αγγούρι (edible fruit) · mr काकडी (edible fruit) · arz خيار (plant) · ary خيار (plant) · tts หมากแตง (edible fruit) · hu uborka (plant) · mk краставица (plant) · gu કાકડી (edible fruit) · et kurk (plant) · uz bodring (edible fruit) · la cucumis (edible fruit) · lo ໝາກແຕງ (plant) · kn ಸವುತೆ (edible fruit) · xal аһурцг (edible fruit) · nan-hbl 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · ro castravete (edible fruit) · fo agurka (edible fruit) · xdq хийа́р (plant) · chr ᎦᎦᎹ (edible fruit) · aii ܚܝܼܵܪܵܐ (plant) · myv куяр (edible fruit) · ja キュウリ (plant) · egy s-S:p*t-Hn:Z2ss (edible fruit) · ko 오이 (plant) · lt agurkas (plant) · vi dưa leo (plant) · ms timun (edible fruit) · hsn 黃瓜 /黄瓜 (edible fruit) · bn শসা (edible fruit) · ur کَکْڑی (edible fruit) · ar خِيَار (edible fruit) · gkm ἀγγουρέα (plant) · kpv ӧгуреч (edible fruit) · kaa qıyar (edible fruit) · ee adzamtre (edible fruit) · kok तौशे (edible fruit) · tr salatalık (edible fruit) · lt agurkas (edible fruit) · ml വെള്ളരി (plant) · tr hıyar (plant) · kjh ӱгурсӱ (edible fruit) · de Salatgurke (edible fruit) · kpv ӧгурец (edible fruit) · ilo pipino (edible fruit) · ota خیار (edible fruit) · pt pepino (edible fruit) · id ketimun (edible fruit) · fi kurkku (edible fruit) · ny mnkhaka (edible fruit) · myv куяр (plant)

wikidata: Q2735883