doughnut

American  

[doh-nuht, -nuht] / ˈdoʊ nət, -ˌnʌt /

Or donut

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.

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doughnut British  

/ 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

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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

Etymology

Origin of doughnut

First recorded in 1795–1805; dough + nut

Example Sentences

Then powered by a glazed doughnut and extra-large energy drink, he zips around driveways in northern New Jersey and nearby New York, ringing doorbells, photographing doorsteps and hauling away the physical aftermath of holiday optimism.

From The Wall Street Journal

Then, in summer, we take Dolly to a local Cars & Coffee at the doughnut shop in town.

From The Wall Street Journal

She and her husband hid under a counter in a doughnut tent, lying flat on the grass.

From The Wall Street Journal

But once inside the Palisades Village mall, children ate sufganiyot doughnuts and decorated ornaments while adults danced to upbeat Hanukkah-themed pop songs.

From Los Angeles Times

Day-old cider doughnuts are your secret weapon—they’ve got just enough dryness to soak up cream without turning mushy.

From Salon

Related Words

• bun
• pastry