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 can mean a feeling of pleasure and enthusiasm, a quality that makes something exciting, or the peel of a citrus fruit. Learn more about the word forms, synonyms, pronunciation, and examples of zest. Zesting an orange Zest[1] is a food ingredient that is prepared by scraping or cutting from the rind of unwaxed citrus fruits such as lemon, orange, citron, and lime. Zest is used to add flavor to many different types of food. In terms of fruit anatomy, the zest is obtained from the flavedo (exocarp) which is also called zest. [2] The flavedo and white pith (albedo) of a citrus fruit together makes up its peel. [3] The amounts of both flavedo and pith are variable among citrus fruits, and ... Definition of zest in the Definitions.net dictionary. Meaning of zest. What does zest mean? Information and translations of zest in the most comprehensive dictionary definitions resource on the web.