pinyon
pinyon Lexical Profile
pinyon Game Scores & Validity
• noun
North American Any of several species of small, drought-resistant pine trees native to the southwestern United States and Mexico, known for producing edible seeds.
"The foothills of the Sangre de Cristo Mountains are heavily dotted with pinyon and juniper trees."
North American The edible seed of a pinyon tree, widely consumed as a traditional food by Indigenous peoples and used in modern regional cuisine.
"She added a handful of roasted pinyons to the salad for an extra, buttery crunch."
North American The wood of the pinyon tree, commonly utilized as firewood and cherished for the highly aromatic smoke it produces when burned.
"On cold desert nights, the distinct, sweet smell of burning pinyon drifted from the adobe chimneys."
• Rhymes for pinyon
• Nearby Words
Word Origin & Etymology
Borrowed into English in the mid-19th century from American Spanish 'piñón' (pine nut), derived from Spanish 'piña' (pine cone), ultimately from Latin 'pinea'.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.