pumpkin

[ puhmp-kin, puhng-kin ]

noun

1. a large, edible, orange-yellow fruit borne by a coarse, decumbent vine, Cucurbita pepo, of the gourd family.
2. the similar fruit of any of several related species, as C. maxima or C. moschata.
3. a plant bearing such fruit.

pumpkin

/ ˈpʌmpkɪn /

noun

1. any of several creeping cucurbitaceous plants of the genus Cucurbita, esp C. pepo of North America and C. maxima of Europe
2. 1. the large round fruit of any of these plants, which has a thick orange rind, pulpy flesh, and numerous seeds
   2. ( as modifier )

      pumpkin pie

3. often capital a term of endearment

Word History and Origins

Origin of pumpkin¹

1640–50; alteration of pumpion ( -kin ), variant of pompon < Middle French, nasalized variant of popon melon, earlier pepon < Latin pepōn- (stem of pepō ) < Greek pépōn kind of melon

Word History and Origins

Origin of pumpkin¹

C17: from earlier pumpion, from Old French pompon, from Latin pepo, from Greek pepōn, from pepōn ripe, from peptein to ripen

Example Sentences

Men complain about way too much these days: Taylor Swift, Chappell Roan, women who swipe left on Tinder, "Barbie" or other movies with female leads, pronouns in social media bios, pumpkin spice lattes, whatever Joe Rogan is telling them to be angry about.

From Salon

I discovered this Oakland-made condiment at a Bay Area farmers market last fall, intrigued by the addition of pumpkin seeds and sesame seeds to what looked like a traditional Asian-style chili crisp base of oil and dry chiles.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s made with pumpkin seeds, coconut oil and lima beans, among other ingredients, but it tastes mind-bogglingly like the real thing.

From Los Angeles Times

“The proximity to Halloween as well as the shape and initial color of the tank’s primer drew inevitable comparisons to a pumpkin by Union Oil staff,” he said.

From Los Angeles Times

A 1997 article in The Times points to Paul Doyle, a refinery maintenance worker who thought it would be great to paint the tank to “look like an overgrown vegetable from a pumpkin patch.”

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• fruit
• squash