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⇱ pickled - WordReference.com Dictionary of English

pickled

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UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ˈpɪkəld/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(pik′əld)

From the verb pickle: (⇒ conjugate)
pickled is: ⓘClick the infinitive to see all available inflections
v past
v past p

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pick•led  (pik′əld),USA pronunciation adj. 
  1. Foodpreserved or steeped in brine or other liquid.
  2. Slang Termsdrunk;
    intoxicated.
  3. Furniture(of wood) given an antique appearance by applying and partly removing paint or by bleaching.
  • pickle1 + -ed2 1545–55

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pickled /ˈpɪkəld/ adj
  1. preserved in a pickling liquid
  2. informal intoxicated; drunk
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
pick•le1 /ˈpɪkəl/USA pronunciation   n., v., -led, -ling. 
n. 
  1. Fooda vegetable, esp. a cucumber, that has been preserved and flavored in brine or vinegar: [countable]a jar of sweet dill pickles.[uncountable]relish made of pickle.
  2. [uncountable] a liquid prepared with salt or vinegar, for preserving or flavoring meat, etc.;
    brine or marinade.
  3. Informal Terms a troublesome situation;
    a difficulty:[countable;usually singular;usually: a + ~]We're in a pickle now, surrounded by woods.

v. [~ + object]
  1. Foodto preserve or soak in brine or other liquid.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026
pick•le1  (pik′əl),USA pronunciation n., v., -led, -ling. 
n. 
  1. Fooda cucumber that has been preserved in brine, vinegar, or the like.
  2. Often, pickles. any other vegetable, as cauliflower, celery, etc., preserved in vinegar and eaten as a relish.
  3. something preserved in a brine or marinade.
  4. a liquid usually prepared with salt or vinegar for preserving or flavoring fish, meat, vegetables, etc.;
    brine or marinade.
  5. Metallurgyan acid or other chemical solution in which metal objects are dipped to remove oxide scale or other adhering substances.
  6. Informal Termsa troublesome or awkward situation;
    predicament:I was in a pickle after the check bounced.
  7. Informal Termsa sour, disagreeable person.

v.t. 
  1. Foodto preserve or steep in brine or other liquid.
  2. to treat with a chemical solution, as for the purpose of cleaning.
  3. to give a pale, streaked finish to (wood) by applying and partly removing paint or by bleaching, as to give an appearance of age.
  4. Slang Termsto store;
    prepare for long-range storage:Let's pickle these old cars for a few years.
  • Middle Dutch, Middle Low German pekel (
  • late Middle English pikkyll, pekille 1400–50
    6. plight, quandary; fix, bind, scrape, jam.
pick•le2  (pik′əl),USA pronunciation n. [Scot. and North Eng.]
  1. Scottish Termsa single grain or kernel, as of barley or corn.
  2. Scottish Termsa small amount;
    a little.
  • 1545–55; perh. noun, nominal use of pickle to take tiny bits of food in eating, frequentative of pick1; see -le

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
pickle /ˈpɪkəl/ n
  1. (often plural) vegetables, such as cauliflowers, onions, etc, preserved in vinegar, brine, etc
  2. any food preserved in this way
  3. a liquid or marinade, such as spiced vinegar, for preserving vegetables, meat, fish, etc
  4. chiefly US Canadian a cucumber that has been preserved and flavoured in a pickling solution, such as brine or vinegar
  5. informal an awkward or difficult situation: to be in a pickle
  6. Brit informal a mischievous child
 vb (transitive)
  1. to preserve in a pickling liquid
  2. to immerse (a metallic object) in a liquid, such as an acid, to remove surface scale
Etymology: 14th Century: perhaps from Middle Dutch pekel; related to German Pökel brineˈpickler n
'pickled' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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