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pistachio

American  
[pi-stash-ee-oh, -stah-shee-oh] / pɪˈstæʃ iˌoʊ, -ˈstɑ ʃiˌoʊ /
Also pistache

noun

plural

pistachios
  1. the nut of a Eurasian tree, Pistacia vera, of the cashew family, containing an edible, greenish kernel.

  2. the kernel itself, used for flavoring.

  3. the tree itself.

  4. pistachio nut flavor.

  5. pistachio green.


pistachio British  
/ pɪˈstɑːʃɪˌəʊ /

noun

  1. an anacardiaceous tree, Pistacia vera, of the Mediterranean region and W Asia, with small hard-shelled nuts

  2. Also called: pistachio nut.  the nut of this tree, having an edible green kernel

  3. the sweet flavour of the pistachio nut, used esp in ice creams

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

  1. of a yellowish-green colour

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Etymology

Origin of pistachio

1375–1425; < Italian pistacchio < Latin pistācium < Greek pistákion pistachio nut, diminutive of pistákē pistachio tree < Middle Persian *pistak ( Persian pista ); replacing late Middle English pistace < Middle French < Latin, as above

Vocabulary lists containing pistachio

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Their visceral cream of pistachio, hazelnut, dark or white chocolate, lemon, raspberry, cinnamon apple, caramel, or speculous.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

Maye even, perhaps unwisely, admits to not especially enjoying his wife's pistachio bread -- before quickly showering her other culinary offerings with praise.

From Barron's • Feb. 3, 2026

You must have heard of Dubai chocolate: the sticky, indulgent confectionary filled with pistachio cream, tahini and shreds of knafeh pastry, which has become a global sensation.

From BBC • Jan. 14, 2026

Hand-crafted from a range of materials, including ceramic and pistachio shells, the teapots reinterpret a classic household item with an “Alice in Wonderland” charm.

From Los Angeles Times • Aug. 1, 2025

I get a double scoop of pistachio, and Hana gets her boring chocolate chip, and Daddy gets cake batter with cookie pieces crumbled in it.

From "A Good Kind of Trouble" by Lisa Moore Ramée