zest

noun \ˈzest\

: lively excitement : a feeling of enjoyment and enthusiasm

: a lively quality that increases enjoyment, excitement, or energy

: small pieces of the skin of a lemon, orange, or lime that are used to flavor food

Full Definition of ZEST

: a piece of the peel of a citrus fruit (as an orange or lemon) used as flavoring

: an enjoyably exciting quality : piquancy <adds zest to the performance>

: keen enjoyment : relish, gusto <has a zest for living>

— zest·ful \-fəl\ adjective

— zest·ful·ly \-fə-lē\ adverb

— zest·ful·ness noun

— zest·less \-ləs\ adjective

See zest defined for English-language learners

See zest defined for kids

Origin of ZEST

obsolete French (now zeste), orange or lemon peel (used as flavoring)

First Known Use: circa 1674

Related to ZEST

Synonyms: nip, pungency, spice, tang, piquancy, zing

Antonyms: insipidity

Other Food Terms

Reuben, calamari, chuck, curry, edamame, foie gras, hummus, leaven, nonpareil, peel

Rhymes with ZEST

best, breast, Brest, chest, crest, gest, geste, guest, hest, jessed, jest, lest, nest, pest, quest, rest, test, tressed, vest, west, wrest

ZESTLESS Defined for Kids

zest

noun \ˈzest\

Definition of ZEST for Kids

: a piece of the peel of a citrus fruit (as an orange or lemon) used to flavor foods

: an enjoyable or exciting quality <Her humor added zest to the presentation.>

: keen enjoyment <They ate with zest.>

Word History of ZEST

The English word zest came from a French word zeste that means “the peel of an orange or a lemon.” Because their flavor made food more tasty and enjoyable, lemon and orange peels were used to season food. In time the word zest came to mean any quality that made life more enjoyable.