noun

pesto

PEHS-toh

Pesto (noun) means an Italian sauce made from crushed basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and cheese. Example: “She tossed the pasta with fresh pesto and cherry tomatoes.”

noun

An Italian sauce made from crushed basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and cheese.

"She tossed the pasta with fresh pesto and cherry tomatoes."

How to use pesto

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA green sauce traditionally made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, oil, and cheese.

Common pairings

basil pesto pesto pasta a jar of pesto

Word forms

pestos plural

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Fill the gap

Can you complete this real example?

She tossed the pasta with fresh _____ and cherry tomatoes.

Etymology

From Italian pesto, from Latin pistus ("crushed, pounded") — the same root as "pestle," reflecting how the ingredients are traditionally ground together.

Origin: Latin

Rhymes for pesto

presto Ernesto Modesto manifesto

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Frequently asked questions

What does “pesto” mean?

The word “pesto” means an Italian sauce made from crushed basil, garlic, pine nuts, olive oil, and cheese. In plain terms, a green sauce traditionally made from basil, garlic, pine nuts, oil, and cheese.

How do you pronounce “pesto”?

“Pesto” is pronounced PEHS-toh (/ˈpɛstoʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “pesto” in a sentence?

Here is “pesto” used in a sentence: “She tossed the pasta with fresh pesto and cherry tomatoes.”

What part of speech is “pesto”?

“Pesto” is a noun.

Where does the word “pesto” come from?

The word “pesto” comes from Latin. From Italian pesto, from Latin pistus ("crushed, pounded") — the same root as "pestle," reflecting how the ingredients are traditionally ground together.