noun
pecan
pih-KAHN
noun
1
A tree native to the southern United States (Carya illinoinensis) that produces smooth, thin-shelled edible nuts.
"The old pecan tree in the yard drops nuts every autumn."
2
The oval, edible nut of this tree, often used in pies and baking.
"Pecan pie is a Southern classic at Thanksgiving."
How to Use Pecan
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe buttery, oval nut used in pies and baking, or the tree it grows on.
UK vs US
Pronunciation varies widely — some say "PEE-can", others "puh-KAHN" — with no single "correct" version even within the US.
Common pairings
pecan pie
candied pecans
pecan tree
Word Forms
pecans plural
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The old _____ tree in the yard drops nuts every autumn.
Etymology
Borrowed from French pacane, itself from an Algonquian word for a hard-shelled nut.