zest

/zest/ (bre, ipa) · [zˈɛst] /zest/ (ame, ipa) · [zˈɛst] /ˈzest How to pronounce zest (audio)/ (ame, mw)

zest — noun

1. strong enjoyment or eagerness that makes a person, event, or activity feel livel

1.名詞B2
釋義

strong enjoyment or eagerness that makes a person, event, or activity feel lively and full of life.

例句

Adina taught the new dance class with enough zest to wake everyone up.

with zest (showing lively energy)

The travel show loses its zest when the host stops asking curious questions.

lose its zest (become less lively)

同義詞
  • enthusiasm

    the most direct near-synonym; slightly more neutral and general than zest

  • energy

    broader; can describe physical strength as well as lively interest

  • sparkle

    suggests brightness and charm, especially in style or personality

  • relish

    often stresses eager enjoyment of doing something

反義詞
  • apathy

    lack of interest or emotional energy

  • dullness

    lack of excitement or liveliness in a person or activity

文法句型

zest for + noun

with zest

bring zest to + noun

用法筆記

Most often appears in patterns such as 'zest for life', 'with zest', or after verbs like 'bring', 'give', and 'lose'. Distinguish from sense 2 — this sense is figurative energy or lively enjoyment, not citrus peel.

常見錯誤

❌She has zest to life.
✅She has zest for life.
💡this sense usually takes 'for' before the thing someone feels eager about.

2. the coloured outer layer of a lemon, orange, lime, or similar fruit, cut or grat

2.名詞B2
釋義

the coloured outer layer of a lemon, orange, lime, or similar fruit, cut or grated and added to food for a fresh sharp taste.

例句

Nikhil stirred lemon zest into the yogurt before serving the dessert.

lemon zest in cooking

The recipe needs the zest of one orange, not the juice.

the zest of + citrus fruit

同義詞
  • peel

    much broader; peel can mean the whole skin, not just the thin outer layer used in cooking

  • rind

    often thicker and rougher; less precise than zest for grated citrus skin

文法句型

zest of + citrus fruit

lemon/orange/lime zest

add zest to + dish

用法筆記

Usually treated as an uncountable ingredient in cooking, but common in measures such as 'the zest of two lemons'. It means only the coloured outer layer, not the bitter white part underneath.

常見錯誤

❌Add the whole lemon peel as zest.
✅Grate only the thin outer lemon skin as zest.
💡zest means the coloured outer layer, not the bitter white pith.