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

Creative fare like biryani arancini, crab risotto with curry leaf pesto, and chicken tikka pot pie are worth arriving with an empty stomach for. — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 16 Sep. 2026

Use collard greens instead of kale in certain recipes, such as pesto, grain bowls, and pasta dishes. — Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 4 Sep. 2026

Louis Rossmann expected his chicken pesto sandwich to be overpriced at the Milwaukee Mitchell International Airport. — Gina Lee Castro, jsonline.com, 3 Sep. 2026

Our first round of the showcase had a definite dumpling theme, which included the dumpling trio from China pavilion and two orders from Gyozas of the Galaxy, including basil pesto chicken (creamy) and street corn-style (sorta spicy). — Dewayne Bevil, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 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