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Webster 1913 Edition

Zest

Zest

(zĕst)
,
Noun.
[F.
zeste
, probably fr. L.
schistos
split, cleft, divided, Gr. [GREEK], from [GREEK] to split, cleave. Cf.
Schism
.]
1.
A piece of orange or lemon peel, or the aromatic oil which may be squeezed from such peel, used to give flavor to liquor, etc.
2.
Hence, something that gives or enhances a pleasant taste, or the taste itself; an appetizer; also, keen enjoyment; relish; gusto.
Almighty Vanity! to thee they owe
Their
zest
of pleasure, and their balm of woe.
Young.
Liberality of disposition and conduct gives the highest
zest
and relish to social intercourse.
Gogan.
3.
The woody, thick skin inclosing the kernel of a walnut.
[Obs.]

Zest

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Zested
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Zesting
.]
1.
To cut into thin slips, as the peel of an orange, lemon, etc.; to squeeze, as peel, over the surface of anything.
2.
To give a relish or flavor to; to heighten the taste or relish of;
as, to
zest
wine
.
Gibber.

Webster 1828 Edition

Zest

ZEST

,
Noun.
1.
A piece of orange or lemon peel, used to give flavor to liquor; or the fine thin oil that spurts out of it when squeezed; also, the woody thick skin quartering the kernel of a walnut.
2.
Relish; something that gives a pleasant taste; or the taste itself.

ZEST

,
Verb.
T.
1.
To give a relish or flavor to; to highten taste or relish.
2.
To cut the peel of an orange or lemon from top to bottom into thin slips; or to squeeze the peel over the surface of any thing.

Definition 2024

zest

zest

See also: žest

English

Noun

zest ‎(countable and uncountable, plural zests)

  1. The outer skin of a citrus fruit, used as a flavouring or garnish.
    The orange zest gives the strong flavors in this dish.
  2. (by extension) Enthusiasm; keen enjoyment; relish; gusto.
    Auntie Mame had a real zest for life.
    • Young
      Almighty Vanity! to thee they owe / Their zest of pleasure, and their balm of woe.
    • Gogan
      Liberality of disposition and conduct gives the highest zest and relish to social intercourse.
  3. The woody, thick skin enclosing the kernel of a walnut.
    • 2006, N. J. Nusha, On the edge: short stories (page 85)
      The green zest of walnuts was used by the women to shine their teeth and it also gave a beautiful rust colour to their lips.

Related terms

Translations

Synonyms

  • (enthusiasm): gusto
  • (outer skin of citrus fruit; general vibrance of flavour): spice, relish, tang

Verb

zest ‎(third-person singular simple present zests, present participle zesting, simple past and past participle zested)

  1. (cooking) To scrape the zest from a fruit
  2. To make more zesty

French

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /zɛst/

Noun

zest m ‎(plural zests)

  1. zest (of a fruit)

Swedish

Noun

zest c

  1. zest; the outer skin of a citrus fruit

Declension

Etymology

French zeste, from Ancient Greek σχιστός ‎(skhistós), from σχίζω ‎(skhízō).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /zɛst/
  • Rhymes: -ɛst

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