What does "pecan" mean?
A deciduous tree, Carya illinoinensis, of the central and southern United States, having deeply furrowed bark, pinnately compound leaves, and edible nuts.
Pecan
/piːˈkɑːn/ noun
noun ·Uncommon ·Advanced level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A deciduous tree, Carya illinoinensis, of the central and southern United States, having deeply furrowed bark, pinnately compound leaves, and edible nuts.
- Grammar: pecan is listed as noun.
- Nearest alternatives: pecan tree, american hickory nut, carya illinoensis, carya illinoinsis.
- Usage evidence: I saw an old and hollow pecan tree that had some bees flying around it.
How to use "pecan"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "pecan" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "pecan" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "pecan" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "pecan" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "pecan" is acting as noun in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "pecan tree" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "pecan", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A deciduous tree, Carya illinoinensis, of the central and southern United States, having deeply furrowed bark, pinnately compound leaves, and edible nuts.
"And away on the farther bank, a motte of huge pecans, standing like giant sentinels over the dwarfed landscape, filled the eye with remote vistas in their shady, twilight aisles. It was very still."
- 2 smooth brown oval nut of south central United States wordnet
- 3 A smooth, thin-shelled, edible oval nut of this tree.
"MEG. […] (Meg takes out two pecans and tries to open them by cracking them together.) Come on ... Crack, you demons! Crack! LENNY. We have a nutcracker! MEG. (Trying with her teeth.) Ah, where's the sport in a nutcracker? Where's the challenge?"
- 4 tree of southern United States and Mexico cultivated for its nuts wordnet
- 5 A half of the edible portion of the inside of this nut.
"Each shell contains two pecans, usually plump and oblong in shape, although some varieties are round or pointed."
Show 1 more definition
- 6 wood of a pecan tree wordnet
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"I saw an old and hollow pecan tree that had some bees flying around it."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "pecan"?
Common synonyms include: pecan tree, american hickory nut, carya illinoensis, carya illinoinsis, ebony, nut.
How do you use "pecan" in a sentence?
I saw an old and hollow pecan tree that had some bees flying around it.
How do you pronounce "pecan"?
Pronounced /piːˈkɑːn/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French pacane and at first spelt paccan. The French word derives from an Algonquian word, perhaps Miami (Illinois) pakani. Compare Cree pakan (“hard nut”), Ojibwe bagaan, Abenaki pagann, bagôn, pagôn (“nut; walnut, hazelnut”).