pumpkin

[puhmp-kin, puhng-kin]

noun

1. a large, edible, orange-yellow fruit borne by a coarse, decumbent vine, Cucurbita pepo, of the gourd family.

2. the similar fruit of any of several related species, as C. maxima or C. moschata.

3. a plant bearing such fruit.

pumpkin

/ ˈpʌmpkɪn /

noun

1. any of several creeping cucurbitaceous plants of the genus Cucurbita, esp C. pepo of North America and C. maxima of Europe

2. 1. the large round fruit of any of these plants, which has a thick orange rind, pulpy flesh, and numerous seeds

   2. ( as modifier )

      pumpkin pie

3. (often capital) a term of endearment

Word History and Origins

Origin of pumpkin¹

1640–50; alteration of pumpion ( -kin ), variant of pompon < Middle French, nasalized variant of popon melon, earlier pepon < Latin pepōn- (stem of pepō ) < Greek pépōn kind of melon

Word History and Origins

Origin of pumpkin¹

C17: from earlier pumpion, from Old French pompon, from Latin pepo, from Greek pepōn, from pepōn ripe, from peptein to ripen

Example Sentences

“Each year, the Great Pumpkin rises out of the pumpkin patch that he thinks is the most sincere,” Linus said.

Read more on Salon

North Lanarkshire Council has now told her the tunnel - which includes carved pumpkins, models of witches and skeletons and spooky artwork - is a "potential hazard" because it has plastic pipes and wooden rails.

Read more on BBC

Mitschunas is also testing everything from lettuce and celery to pumpkins and strawberries -- and even aromatic plants.

Read more on Barron's

Stewart goes on to provide tutorials on how to make those boxed lanterns — along with an array of Halloween-centric treats and decorations: candied apples, homemade costumes, pumpkin-shaped iced cookies and carved pumpkins.

Read more on Salon

Yamamoto might need to deliver a shutout, because L.A.’s offense has gone pumpkin.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• fruit 
• squash