pistachio

Also pis·tache

[pi-stash-ee-oh, -stah-shee-oh]

noun

plural

pistachios 

1. the nut of a Eurasian tree, Pistacia vera, of the cashew family, containing an edible, greenish kernel.

2. the kernel itself, used for flavoring.

3. the tree itself.

4. pistachio nut flavor.

5. pistachio green.

pistachio

/ pɪˈstɑːʃɪˌəʊ /

noun

1. an anacardiaceous tree, Pistacia vera, of the Mediterranean region and W Asia, with small hard-shelled nuts

2. Also called: pistachio nut. the nut of this tree, having an edible green kernel

3. the sweet flavour of the pistachio nut, used esp in ice creams

adjective

1. of a yellowish-green colour

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistachio¹

1375–1425; < Italian pistacchio < Latin pistācium < Greek pistákion pistachio nut, diminutive of pistákē pistachio tree < Middle Persian *pistak ( Persian pista ); replacing late Middle English pistace < Middle French < Latin, as above

Word History and Origins

Origin of pistachio¹

C16: via Italian and Latin from Greek pistakion pistachio nut, from pistakē pistachio tree, from Persian pistah

Example Sentences

Beneath a crust of sliced almonds, the cake is mostly ground pistachios and flour enriched with butter, eggs and sugar.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

More than 70 percent of those exports, worth $1.4 billion, are perishable farm goods such as figs, pistachios, grapes and pomegranates.

Read more on Barron's

With practice, one soon discovers that even the most profound ideas can be packed neatly inside the shell of a pistachio, with room to spare.

Read more on Literature

Toasted pistachios on top wouldn’t hurt either — for crunch, for richness, for the way they catch the light.

Read more on Salon

Hand-crafted from a range of materials, including ceramic and pistachio shells, the teapots reinterpret a classic household item with an “Alice in Wonderland” charm.

Read more on Los Angeles Times