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

PORTLAND, Ore. — There is a rhetorical battle raging here in this heavily Democratic city, known for its delicious coffee, plethora of fancy restaurants, bespoke doughnuts and also for its small faction of black-clad activists.

From Los Angeles Times

Like a sugary doughnut, the hypocrisy was too tempting to pass up.

From Los Angeles Times

The poster for the new film, shared on various social media platforms, shows a doughnut being grabbed alongside the tagline: "Homer's coming back for seconds."

From BBC

The technical challenge then requested bakers make a dozen “ring doughnuts” and the showstopper challenged them to assemble tiered sweet breads.

From Salon

Drivers draw crowds of spectators as they perform stunts such as “doughnuts” — spinning their cars in circles until their tires burn rubber marks on the pavement.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• bun 
• pastry