doughnut

or do·nut

[ doh-nuht, -nuht ]

noun

1. a small cake of sweetened or, sometimes, unsweetened dough fried in deep fat, typically shaped like a ring or, when prepared with a filling, a ball.
2. anything shaped like a thick ring; an annular object; toroid.

doughnut

/ ˈdəʊnʌt /

noun

1. a small cake of sweetened dough, often ring-shaped or spherical with a jam or cream filling, cooked in hot fat
2. anything shaped like a ring, such as the reaction vessel of a thermonuclear reactor

verb

1. informal.
   tr (of Members of Parliament) to surround (a speaker) during the televising of Parliament to give the impression that the chamber is crowded or the speaker is well supported

Word History and Origins

Origin of doughnut¹

First recorded in 1795–1805; dough + nut

Example Sentences

When I finally left the doughnut job in 2009, I left the industry entirely — not because I wanted another career, but because I couldn’t see a path to a sustainable, balanced life in food.

From Eater

Amsterdam’s ambition is to bring all 872,000 residents inside the doughnut, ensuring everyone has access to a good quality of life, but without putting more pressure on the planet than is sustainable.

From Time

Cake doughnuts come three to an order, glazed in chocolate and jazzed up with sprinkles.

From Washington Post

Wanting to get more details, Krans told officials a “BS story” and then offered to cover a doughnut bill for the recorder’s office in Pioche, Nevada.

From Popular-Science

The costs for such PCR “gold standard” testing come to about $5 to $15 per pooled test, or that of a cup of coffee and a few doughnuts.

From Washington Post

And the ACA fixes what was the biggest problem created by Part D, the so-called doughnut hole in prescription drug coverage.

From The Daily Beast

The other is a Jersey bruiser, with a (much-discussed) physique reminiscent of Tony Soprano after a doughnut bender.

From The Daily Beast

“Pretty good thing,” says Lynch, biting into his doughnut, totally undisturbed.

From The Daily Beast

Afterwards, in the green room, Lynch sits on a sofa and munches on a doughnut.

From The Daily Beast

The Daily Pic: The crème brûlée "bismarck" from the Doughnut Plant is a great aesthetic creation.

From The Daily Beast

There are doughnut holes and stocking holes and woodpecker holes and cheese holes.

From Project Gutenberg

Belatedly, Ruiz made radio contact with the doughnut, which was still well within range.

From Project Gutenberg

If you can't get it fixed in an hour or two, we'll have to try rolling Valier down to the doughnut.

From Project Gutenberg

In reverse order, this is the most comfortable berth in the doughnut's facilities, and you got here courtesy of one Johnny Ruiz.

From Project Gutenberg

"There won't be much of a dinner at home, anyway," said Nabby to Dolly, as she packed her basket with an extra doughnut or two.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• bun
• pastry