noun
zucchini
zoo-KEE-nee/zuˈkiːni/
A long, usually green summer squash eaten as a vegetable.
The sliced zucchini reveals pale flesh and small, soft seeds.
Etymology
The Italian pieces mean “little squashes,” with the diminutive ending appearing in its plural form. This connects the vegetable’s name to the small, tender squash described in early English accounts.
In context
if it's a thin skin like a zucchini, then it's a summer squash
More examples
- We pick two zucchinis from the garden every morning.
- Grated zucchini keeps this bread moist.
- Try adding raw zucchini to your salad.
Forms
zucchini · zucchinis
Similar words
- squash
- A broader term covering zucchini and many other varieties.