# cucumber

/ˈkjukəmbɝ/ (US) · /kjˈuːkʌmbɐ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/cucumber
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. the vegetable

noun · CEFR A2

a long vegetable with green skin and watery white flesh that you usually eat raw in salads.

For teachers: the edible, cylindrical fruit of the Cucumis sativus plant, typically consumed fresh or pickled.

- I added some sliced cucumber to the salad to make it more refreshing.
- The chef insisted on using organic cucumbers, thinly sliced and chilled, to provide a crisp texture to the summer gazpacho.

### 2. a calm person

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · Humorous

a person who stays very calm and relaxed, even in a difficult or stressful situation.

For teachers: a person characterized by extreme composure or self-possession, typically used in the idiom 'cool as a cucumber'.

- Even during the difficult exam, he was as cool as a cucumber.
- Despite the aggressive questioning from the press, the CEO remained as cool as a cucumber throughout the entire briefing.

Usage: Almost exclusively used within the fixed simile 'cool as a cucumber'.

## Examples

- I put a slice of cucumber on my sandwich.
- She added diced cucumber to the salad for a fresh, crunchy texture.
- The cool, crisp slices of cucumber provided a refreshing contrast to the rich, spicy flavors of the curry.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.