zest — OET · Shobdo

zest

noun

1 she had a great zest for life:

enthusiasm, gusto, relish, zestfulness, appetite, eagerness, keenness, avidity, zeal, fervour, ardour, passion, love, enjoyment, joy, delight, excitement;

verve, vigour, liveliness, sparkle, fizz, effervescence, fire, animation, vitality, dynamism, energy, buoyancy, brio, bounce, pep, spirit, spiritedness, exuberance, high spirits, high-spiritedness;

informal zing, zip, oomph, vim, pizzazz, get-up-and-go.

▷antonyms apathy, indifference; distaste.

2 the slice of lemon in a gin and tonic is there to add zest:

piquancy, tang, sharpness, tartness, flavour, flavouring, savour, taste, tastiness, pungency, spice, spiciness, relish, bite;

interest, an edge, effect, potency;

informal kick, punch, zing, oomph.

▷antonyms blandness.

3 add the finely grated zest of an orange:

rind, peel, skin, covering, outer layer;

technical epicarp, pericarp, exocarp.

choose the right word

zest, gusto, verve

■ Zest originally denoted the grated outer rind of a lemon, orange, or lime; hence it has also come to refer to a quality of excitement or piquancy (I try to beat previous records in order to give zest to an otherwise monotonous job). It also describes the eager enthusiasm inspired by such a quality (the grass court season has given him renewed zest, and he is playing the best tennis of his career | she had a zest for life and boundless energy).

■ To do something with gusto is to do it with obvious enthusiasm, enjoyment, and energy (the crowd sang the anthem with gusto | I was attacking a delicious crême brûlée with great gusto).

■ Verve also denotes energy and liveliness, but additionally suggests stylishness and expertise (performances of undeniable verve and grace | he drove with assurance and verve).

zest Oxford Dictionary of English