pecan

noun

pe·​can pi-ˈkän  -ˈkan  ˈpē-ˌkan 

1

: a large hickory (Carya illinoinensis synonym C. oliviformis) 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

This Southern Living original is packed with pineapple, coconut, bananas, and pecans and covered with a rich cream cheese frosting. —Lisa Cericola, Southern Living, 30 Jan. 2025

What to order: Love & Espresso — espresso, vanilla, brown sugar pecan simple syrup and black walnut and Aztec chocolate bitters. —Tasha Tsiaperas, Axios, 24 Jan. 2025

Planting new fruit and pecan trees without pruning them back by half. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2025

For the most flavor, toast your pecans before adding them to the cookie dough mixture. —Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

American French pacane, from Illinois pakani

First Known Use

1761, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

pecan

noun

pe·​can pi-ˈkän  -ˈkan 

: an oblong edible nut that usually has a thin shell and is the fruit of a tall tree of the central and southern U.S.

also : this tree which is one of the hickories