zest

views updated Jun 11 2018

zest / zest/ • n. 1. great enthusiasm and energy: they campaigned with zest and intelligence. ∎ a quality of excitement and piquancy: I used to try to beat past records to add zest to my monotonous job. 2. the outer colored part of the peel of citrus fruit, used as flavoring.DERIVATIVES: zest·ful / -fəl/ adj.zest·ful·ly adv.zest·ful·ness n.zest·y adj.

The Oxford Pocket Dictionary of Current English

zest

views updated May 11 2018

zest Outer skin of citrus fruits. See flavedo.

A Dictionary of Food and Nutrition DAVID A. BENDER

zest

views updated Jun 08 2018

zest †orange or lemon peel used for flavouring XVII; something that imparts a relish XVIII; keen relish, gusto. — F. zeste, †zest, zec orange or lemon peel, of unkn. orig.

The Concise Oxford Dictionary of English Etymology T. F. HOAD