pecan
Americannoun
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a tall hickory tree, Carya illinoinensis, of the southern U.S. and Mexico, cultivated for its oval, smooth-shelled, edible nuts: the state tree of Texas.
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a nut of this tree.
noun
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a hickory tree, Carya pecan (or C. illinoensis ), of the southern US, having deeply furrowed bark and edible nuts
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the smooth oval nut of this tree, which has a sweet oily kernel
Etymology
Origin of pecan
1765–75, < Mississippi Valley French pacane < Illinois pakani < Proto-Algonquian *paka·n- nut (derivative of *pake·- crack nuts)
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.
Cake fillings of almond crunch and toasted pecan praline and candied lemon, while jackfruit and palm sugar bring distinct South-East Asian flavours.
From BBC • Mar. 28, 2026
Researchers analyzed 52 peer reviewed studies published between 2000 and 2025, including human clinical trials examining the physiological effects of pecan consumption on cardiometabolic and other health related outcomes.
From Science Daily • Feb. 22, 2026
The company calls Thanksgiving its Super Bowl, when its cooks crank out to-go meals of ham, turkey and pecan pie.
From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 9, 2025
It also incorporates a variety of toppings, such as shreds of TJ’s Unexpected Cheddar, dried apple chips with cinnamon, and crunchy pieces of pecan.
From Salon • Nov. 26, 2025
I couldn’t wait to taste the sweet creaminess of butter pecan.
From "It All Comes Down to This" by Karen English
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
