pecan

noun

pe·can | \ pi-ˈkän,

Definition of pecan

1 : a large hickory (Carya illinoinensis synonym C. illinoensis) that has roughish bark and hard but brittle wood and is widely grown in the warmer parts of the U.S. and in Mexico for its edible nut

2 : the wood of the pecan tree The hardwood floor was made of pecan.

3 : the smooth oblong thin-shelled nut of the pecan tree bought some pecans to make a pie

Examples of pecan in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Inside lies butternut squash; outside, an earthy, wintry dice of roasted duck hearts and buttery pecans. — Alison Cook, Houston Chronicle, "Eat This: Tagliatelle alla Bolognese at Giacomo's," 23 Jan. 2018 Florida lost $9 million in vegetables and melons, $4 million in fruits and $3 million in tree nuts, including pecans. — Jeff Martin, The Seattle Times, "Farmers fear it will take years to recover from storm strike," 30 Oct. 2018 Spread pecans in even layer in pie shell, then pour sugar mixture over them. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "Brown Sugar Pecan Pie," 23 Oct. 2018 Georgia pecans are incredibly popular overseas, with approximately half of Georgia’s production being exported to China, said R.G. Lamar, who operates Lamar Pecan Company, one of the largest pecan farms in Georgia. — Alex Soderstrom, ajc, "Georgia farmers face uncertainty as crop tariffs loom," 25 June 2018 Sprinkle with graham crackers, pecans, and lemon zest. — Kate Merker And Talyor Murray, Country Living, "Gingerbread Cheesecake With Pecan-Graham Crust," 7 Dec. 2018 Transfer to a bowl, add oats and pecans, and rub with hands to combine; refrigerate until ready to use. — Woman's Day Test Kitchen, Woman's Day, "Cranberry-Pear Pecan Crumb Pie," 24 Oct. 2018 Add 1¼ cups roughly chopped pecans and cook until lightly browned. — Aleksandra Crapanzano, WSJ, "Everyone’s Secret-Favorite Thanksgiving Dish," 8 Nov. 2018 While crust is thawing at room temperature for 15 minutes, mix pecans, flour, and brown sugar in bowl. — The Good Housekeeping Test Kitchen, Good Housekeeping, "The Easiest Apple Pie Recipe Ever," 12 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'pecan.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.