pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

nonstandard

ˈpəŋ-kən 

often attributive

1

a

: a fruit of any of various cultivars of herbaceous plants (Cucurbita pepo, C. maxima, C. moschata, C. ficifolia, and C. argyrosperma) of the gourd family that is typically round and orange but may be another color or shape, that has a hard usually smooth skin with shallow longitudinal grooves, and that is grown for ornamental use or for its fibrous pale flesh used especially in baking or as feed for livestock

b

: any of several annual chiefly trailing American plants that bear pumpkins

2

: a strong orange color

Examples of pumpkin in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Avocado and bananas are high in this mineral, too, or try snacking on pumpkin seeds, almonds, and cashew nuts. —Fiona Embleton, Glamour, 11 Feb. 2025

All Natural Reduced Fat Plain Greek Strained Yogurt with berries, pumpkin seeds, and chia seeds in a jar for a simple yet filling snack. —Jillian Kubala, Health, 4 Feb. 2025

Veggie Seeds to Soak peas squash beets peppers beans cucumbers pumpkin corn chard 11 Essential Tips for Growing Vegetables from Seed for Beginners Super hard seeds like beans will benefit from nicking the seed coat with a sandpaper block, file, or sharp knife before soaking. —Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 1 Feb. 2025

People quarrel while pumpkins grow round on thick green vines. —Laurel Snyder, New York Times, 17 Jan. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of earlier pumpion, modification of French popon, pompon melon, pumpkin, from Latin pepon-, pepo, from Greek pepōn, from pepōn ripened; akin to Greek pessein to cook, ripen — more at cook

First Known Use

1664, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Phrases Containing pumpkin

• Japanese pumpkin
• kabocha pumpkin
• kobocha pumpkin
• pumpkin pie spice
• pumpkin spice
• pumpkin spiced

Kids Definition

pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

1

: the usually round orange fruit of a vine of the gourd family widely used as food

also : a fruit (as a crookneck squash) of a closely related vine

2

: a usually hairy prickly vine that produces pumpkins

3

: a strong orange color

Medical Definition

pumpkin

noun

pump·​kin ˈpəm(p)-kən 

: the usually round orange fruit of a vine (Cucurbita pepo) of the gourd family that is widely cultivated as food and is the source of pepo