pie
Pie (noun) means a baked dish with a pastry crust and a filling, sweet or savoury. Example: “She baked an apple pie for dessert.”
How to use pie
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA baked pastry dish, or figuratively a whole amount to be divided up.
In the UK "pie" usually implies savoury (meat pie); in the US it more often implies sweet (fruit pie).
British English leans savoury by default; American English leans sweet by default.
Word forms
pied past tense, pies plural, pies plural, pie plural, pies plural, pies plural, pies singular
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She baked an apple _____ for dessert.
Etymology
From Middle English pye, of uncertain origin — possibly linked to the magpie, since a savoury pie mixes several ingredients much like the bird was thought to collect miscellaneous items.
Related words
Rhymes for pie
See all rhymes for pie →Frequently asked questions
What does “pie” mean?
The word “pie” means a baked dish with a pastry crust and a filling, sweet or savoury. In plain terms, a baked pastry dish, or figuratively a whole amount to be divided up.
How do you pronounce “pie”?
“Pie” is pronounced peye (/paɪ/ in IPA).
How do you use “pie” in a sentence?
Here is “pie” used in a sentence: “She baked an apple pie for dessert.”
What part of speech is “pie”?
“Pie” is a noun.
Where does the word “pie” come from?
The word “pie” comes from Middle English. From Middle English pye, of uncertain origin — possibly linked to the magpie, since a savoury pie mixes several ingredients much like the bird was thought to collect miscellaneous items.
Is “pie” a common word?
“Pie” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “pie” have?
“Pie” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a baked dish with a pastry crust and a filling, sweet or savoury.
What is the difference between a 'pie' and a 'tart'?
A pie is a baked dish with a pastry crust and a filling, and it often has a top crust or is fully enclosed. A tart is usually open-topped with no upper crust, and its filling is visible on the surface.
What is the difference between a sweet pie and a savoury pie?
A sweet pie has a sugary filling such as fruit, cream, or custard and is usually served as dessert. A savoury pie is filled with ingredients like meat, cheese, or vegetables and is eaten as a main course.
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