noun
pesto
PEHS-toh
noun
1
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 notesIn 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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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.