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Definition of butternut squash
butternut squash
Plural:butternut squashes
butternut squash Lexical Profile
CEFR
B2
Grade
4
Tier
2
Usage
Top 10k
• noun
1
A large, bell-shaped winter squash (Cucurbita moschata) native to the Americas, characterized by its pale tan rind and sweet, dense, orange flesh.
Example
"She roasted the butternut squash with olive oil and sage until the edges were deeply caramelized."
2
The cooked, sweet, and nutty-tasting orange flesh of this gourd, commonly used in autumn dishes such as soups and purees.
Example
"The chef prepared a creamy bowl of butternut squash garnished with roasted pumpkin seeds."
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Developed and named in Massachusetts in the 1940s by Charles Leggett, who described its flavor as 'smooth as butter and sweet as a nut'. The word 'squash' derives from the Narragansett Native American word 'askutasquash'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Butternut squash. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 14, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/butternut squash