the Gherkin
/ðə ˈɡɜːkɪn/
/ðə ˈɡɜːrkɪn/
- the informal name of a tall office building in the City of London, opened in 2004. It was built as the home of the UK head office of the Swiss Reinsurance Company but it also houses offices of other major companies as well as a variety of shops and restaurants. Its unusual round shape which narrows to a point at the top has led to it being called the Gherkin (= a small pickled cucumber). It was designed by Norman Foster and has many features which mean that it uses 50% less energy than a traditional office building. Its official name was the Swiss Re Tower and is now 30 St Mary Axe.
Definitions on the go
Look up any word in the dictionary offline, anytime, anywhere with the Oxford Advanced Learner’s Dictionary app.
Check pronunciation:
the Gherkin