- [countable, usually plural] (British English) a vegetable that has been preserved in vinegar or salt water and has a strong taste, served cold with meat, salads, etc.Topics Foodc2
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- [uncountable] (British English) a cold thick spicy sauce made from fruit and vegetables that have been boiled, often sold in jars and served with meat, cheese, etc.
- a cheese and pickle sandwich
- (North American English) (British English gherkin)[uncountable, countable] a small cucumber that has been preserved in vinegar before being eaten
Word Originlate Middle English (denoting a spicy sauce served with meat): from Middle Dutch, Middle Low German pekel, of unknown ultimate origin.
Idioms
See pickle in the Oxford Advanced American Dictionaryin a pickle
- (informal) in a difficult or unpleasant situation
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pickle