pecan
Americannoun
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pecans
plural
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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
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of pecan
1765–75, < Mississippi Valley French pacane < Illinois pakani < Proto-Algonquian *paka·n- nut (derivative of *pake·- crack nuts)
Explanation
A pecan is a tree that grows nuts also known as pecans. These hard-shelled nuts are similar to walnuts and used for sweet treats like praline candy and pecan pie. Pecan comes from an Algonquian word that means "nut that takes a stone to crack." It takes some work to break open a pecan, but it's well worth the effort. There are at least three "correct" ways to pronounce this word, so your best bet is to pick your favorite and stick with it. Pecan wood is used to make furniture and for smoking meats, and four U.S. states claim the pecan as their official state nut.
Vocabulary lists containing pecan
English Words Derived from Indigenous Languages of the Americas
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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.
See Examples For:
Coffee pecan torte, spiced pear sponge with miso caramel.
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
Gone are the sweet potatoes, pecan pie and corn muffins.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 22, 2025
The pecan tree could hold one, maybe two of us, but only I’d be unafraid to climb it.
From "Gone Crazy in Alabama" by Rita Williams-Garcia
Carey can now eat seven walnuts or pecans without having an allergic reaction so treatment was "100% worth it", Scott said.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
A few handfuls of oats, pistachios or pecans, butter, maple syrup.
From Salon ● Mar. 17, 2026
Some evidence suggests that replacing refined carbohydrates with pecans may improve insulin response or help moderate after meal blood sugar levels.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 22, 2026
For those looking to increase their intake of plant based nutrients, pecans offer a convenient snack option with no preparation required.
From Science Daily ● Feb. 22, 2026
Pay was light, but the tips dropped in my palm fast as pecans in November.
From "Jazz" by Toni Morrison
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
