gherkin

Everyday

1. A small cucumber kept in vinegar, eaten as a pickle; in the USA and Canada usually called a «pickle». tree →
2. The small cucumber itself, grown for pickling. tree →
3. (UK, informal) «The Gherkin», a famous pickle-shaped tower in London. tree →

In the lessons

An everyday food word: gherkins go in burgers, sandwiches and salads. In maths and cooking, recipes may use gherkins. A nickname for a building shaped like one in the City of London.

Examples

• I always take the gherkin out of my burger. tree →
• Mum chopped gherkins into the potato salad. tree →
• Gherkins taste sour and crunchy. tree →
• In America, a gherkin is just called a pickle. tree →
• We saw the Gherkin building on our trip to London. tree →
• A jar of gherkins stood on the picnic table. tree →
• Grandpa grows gherkins in his vegetable patch. tree →

Note

Say «GUR-kin» (hard g). Plural: gherkins. The h is silent. UK: gherkin; USA/Canada: pickle (and «pickle» in the UK often means a chutney).