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zest

zest

 
 
pronunciation:
zest
features:
Word Combinations (noun), Word History
part of speech: noun
definition 1: great pleasure; keen enjoyment; relish.
The elderly woman's zest for living made her seem much younger.He set to work on the project with great zest.
synonyms:
gusto, relish
antonyms:
apathy
similar words:
élan, animation, appetite, delight, elation, enjoyment, enthusiasm, exhilaration, exuberance, joie de vivre, joy, passion, pleasure, taste, verve, zeal
definition 2: sharpness or intensity of flavor.
This salad dressing has a lot of zest!
synonyms:
nip, piquancy, pungency, tang
antonyms:
blandness
similar words:
bite, flavor, kick, savor, spice
definition 3: excitement; interest.
This room used to be so dull; the new bright colors give it some zest.She bought a sexy red dress to add a little zest to her wardrobe.You should go out more and put some zest back into your life.
synonyms:
excitement, interest, spice
similar words:
life, vitality, zip
definition 4: the topmost layer of the peel of a lemon, lime, orange or other citrus fruit, often grated and used to add flavor to foods.
The pie recipe calls for the zest of one lemon.
Word CombinationsSubscriber feature About this feature
derivations: zestful (adj.), zesty (adj.), zestfully (adv.), zestfulness (n.)
Word History
Zest was borrowed into English in the 17th century from the French word zest that means "orange or lemon peel." By the end of the18th century, it was being used to mean "keen enjoyment."