Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

pistou

noun
pis·​tou | \ pēsˈtü\
plural -s

Definition of pistou

: a vegetable soup served with a puree of garlic, herbs, oil, and cheese and often tomatoes

Love words?

You must — there are over 200,000 words in our free online dictionary, but you are looking for one that’s only in the Merriam-Webster Unabridged Dictionary.

Start your free trial today and get unlimited access to America's largest dictionary, with:

  • More than 250,000 words that aren't in our free dictionary
  • Expanded definitions, etymologies, and usage notes
  • Advanced search features
  • Ad free!

First Known Use of pistou

1967, in the meaning defined above

History and Etymology for pistou

French, crushed basil, pesto, from Provençal, from pista to crush, from Old Provençal pistar, from Late Latin pistare

Keep scrolling for more

Learn More about pistou

Dictionary Entries near pistou

piston rod

piston spring

piston valve

pistou

Pisum

pit

Pit

Statistics for pistou

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for pistou

The first known use of pistou was in 1967

See more words from the same year

Comments on pistou

What made you want to look up pistou? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

Show Comments  Hide Comments 

WORD OF THE DAY

reverberate

Listen to the pronounciation of reverberate

to reflect, repel, echo, or resound

Get Word of the Day daily email!

Test Your Vocabulary

Original Meanings Quiz

  • rembrandt-painting-a-young-scholar-and-his-tutor
  • Which of the following is the earliest known sense of the word awe?
True or False

Test your knowledge - and maybe learn something along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ
Word Winder's CrossWinder

Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.

TAKE THE QUIZ

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games