ZEST

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does zest mean? 

• ZEST (noun)
  The noun ZEST has 2 senses:

1. vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment

2. a tart spicy quality

  Familiarity information: ZEST used as a noun is rare.

• ZEST (verb)
  The verb ZEST has 1 sense:

1. add herbs or spices to

  Familiarity information: ZEST used as a verb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• ZEST (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Vigorous and enthusiastic enjoyment

Classified under:

Nouns denoting feelings and emotions

Synonyms:

gusto; relish; zest; zestfulness

Hypernyms ("zest" is a kind of...):

enjoyment (the pleasure felt when having a good time)

enthusiasm (a feeling of excitement)

Derivation:

zesty (marked by spirited enjoyment)

Sense 2

Meaning:

A tart spicy quality

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

nip; piquance; piquancy; piquantness; tang; tanginess; zest

Hypernyms ("zest" is a kind of...):

spice; spicery; spiciness (the property of being seasoned with spice and so highly flavored)

Derivation:

zest (add herbs or spices to)

zesty (having an agreeably pungent taste)

• ZEST (verb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Add herbs or spices to

Classified under:

Verbs of seeing, hearing, feeling

Synonyms:

spice; spice up; zest

Hypernyms (to "zest" is one way to...):

flavor; flavour; season (lend flavor to)

Domain category:

cookery; cooking; preparation (the act of preparing something (as food) by the application of heat)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "zest"):

ginger (add ginger to in order to add flavor)

pepper (add pepper to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

zest (a tart spicy quality)

 Context examples 

And when he had gone, she would return to her books with a keener zest and fresh store of energy.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

My first feeling of fear had passed away, and I thrilled now with a keener zest than I had ever enjoyed when we were the defenders of the law instead of its defiers.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

This incident gives zest to our investigation, however, and I only trust that our little friend will not suffer from her imprudence in allowing this brute to trace her.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

In America, as everyone knows, girls early sign the declaration of independence, and enjoy their freedom with republican zest, but the young matrons usually abdicate with the first heir to the throne and go into a seclusion almost as close as a French nunnery, though by no means as quiet.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

Never had he read fiction with so keen zest as he studied these books.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

There was no zest in the thought of departure, while the act of departure appalled him as a weariness of the flesh.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

Already the zest of combat, which of old had been so keen and lasting, had died down, and he discovered that he was self-analytical, too much so to live, single heart and single hand, so primitive an existence.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)