Zest of course, refers to tiny pieces of citrus rind that are used to brighten, or enhance, the flavor of food and beverages.

Creamy, rich, and topped with a bit of candied lime zest, they make a refreshing summer dessert.

Definition of zest noun in Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary. Meaning, pronunciation, picture, example sentences, grammar, usage notes, synonyms and more.

Zest is a feeling of pleasure and enthusiasm. He retired from professional chess because he had lost the zest for winning.

There are five meanings listed in OED's entry for the noun zest, one of which is labelled obsolete. See ‘Meaning & use’ for definitions, usage, and quotation evidence.

ZEST definition: keen relish; hearty enjoyment; gusto. See examples of zest used in a sentence.

zest (zɛst) n. 1. keen relish; hearty enjoyment; gusto. 2. an agreeable or piquant flavor imparted to something. 3. anything added to impart flavor or relish.

Jul 14, 2025 · Follow our guide to the best ways to zest a lemon and how to use lemon zest. Lemon zest is the secret to unlocking maximum lemon flavor in your cooking.

Dec 14, 2025 · zest (third-person singular simple present zests, present participle zesting, simple past and past participle zested) (cooking) To scrape the zest from a fruit.

Dec 23, 2025 · If you don't have a zester, you can still zest a lemon. Here are three ways to zest a lemon without a zester.