pesto

noun

pes·​to ˈpe-(ˌ)stō 

: a sauce made especially of fresh basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese

Examples of pesto in a Sentence

Top the bread with pesto.

Recent Examples on the Web

Pair them with Clique’s signature lollipop chicken wings or wagyu beef and Ibérico pork meatballs, topped with bone marrow tomato sauce and served with basil pesto breadsticks. —Melinda Sheckells, Forbes.com, 29 Jan. 2026

Rubirosa in Nolita is known for its pies, among them the tie-dye pizza, made with vodka sauce, tomato sauce, pesto, and fresh mozzarella. —Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 28 Jan. 2026

The Da Italian has red sauce, pesto and fresh mozzarella. —Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Jan. 2026

Use your fresh mint in all kinds of recipes, such as watermelon salad, pesto, drinks like cocktails, tea, and lemonade, or a flavorful leg of lamb. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Jan. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Italian, from pesto, adjective, pounded, from pestare to pound, from Late Latin pistare, frequentative of Latin pinsere

First Known Use

1937, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

pesto

noun

pes·​to ˈpes-tō 

: a sauce made especially of fresh basil, garlic, oil, pine nuts, and grated cheese