piñon

noun

pi·​ñon ˈpin-ˌyōn How to pronounce piñon (audio)
-ˌyän,
-yən;
pin-ˈyōn
variants or pinyon
plural piñons or pinyons or piñones pin-ˈyō-nēz How to pronounce piñon (audio)
: any of various small pines (such as Pinus quadrifolia, P. cembroides, P. edulis, and P. monophylla) of western North America with edible seeds
also : the edible seed of a piñon

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish piñón, from Spanish, pine nut, from piña pine cone, from Latin pinea — more at pineal

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of piñon was in 1831

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Piñon.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pi%C3%B1on. Accessed 10 Sep. 2025.

Kids Definition

piñon

noun
pi·​ñon
variants or pinyon
ˈpin-ˌyōn How to pronounce piñon (audio) -ˌyän How to pronounce piñon (audio)
-yən;
pin-ˈyōn
plural piñons or pinyons or piñones pin-ˈyō-nēz How to pronounce piñon (audio)
: any of various small pines of western North America with edible seeds
also : the edible seed of a piñon
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