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noun

pistachio

pihs-TA-shee-oh

Pistachio (noun) means a small tree grown for its edible nut, or the nut itself, which has a hard shell and green kernel. Example: “She sprinkled crushed pistachios over the ice cream.”

noun
1
A small tree grown for its edible nut, or the nut itself, which has a hard shell and green kernel.
"She sprinkled crushed pistachios over the ice cream."
2
A pale green colour resembling the nut's kernel.
"The walls were painted a soft pistachio."

How to use pistachio

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA green-kernelled nut, or the pale green colour named after it.

Common pairings
pistachio ice cream pistachio nuts pistachio green

Word forms

pistachios plural, pistachioes plural

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She sprinkled crushed _____ over the ice cream.

Etymology

From Italian pistacchio, from Latin pistacium, from Greek pistakion, ultimately of Iranian origin — related to Persian peste.

Origin: Latin

pistachio nut pistachio tree

Rhymes for pistachio

See all rhymes for pistachio →

Frequently asked questions

What does “pistachio” mean?

The word “pistachio” means a small tree grown for its edible nut, or the nut itself, which has a hard shell and green kernel. In plain terms, a green-kernelled nut, or the pale green colour named after it.

How do you pronounce “pistachio”?

“Pistachio” is pronounced pihs-TA-shee-oh (/pɪsˈtæʃioʊ/ in IPA).

How do you use “pistachio” in a sentence?

Here is “pistachio” used in a sentence: “She sprinkled crushed pistachios over the ice cream.”

What part of speech is “pistachio”?

“Pistachio” is a noun.

Where does the word “pistachio” come from?

The word “pistachio” comes from Latin. From Italian pistacchio, from Latin pistacium, from Greek pistakion, ultimately of Iranian origin — related to Persian peste.

How many meanings does “pistachio” have?

“Pistachio” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a small tree grown for its edible nut, or the nut itself, which has a hard shell and green kernel.

Definitions: FreeDict original editorial