Word
butternut
Phoneticsbut·ter·nut
UK/bˈʌtənˌʌt/
Countable noun
Definition
n. a sweet winter squash with light brown skin and soft orange flesh inside. You usually roast it or use it in soup.
n. a pear-shaped winter squash with tan skin and sweet orange flesh, widely used cooked in soups and roasted dishes. Also refers to a North American walnut tree that produces oily edible nuts.
Examples
“I roast butternut with olive oil for dinner.”
“She makes a creamy butternut soup with onion and ginger every autumn.”
“The farmer harvests butternut in late autumn, curing the thick-skinned squash for weeks so its sugars deepen before it reaches winter markets.”
Examples
simple
“I roast butternut with olive oil for dinner.”
contextual
“She makes a creamy butternut soup with onion and ginger every autumn.”
complex
“The farmer harvests butternut in late autumn, curing the thick-skinned squash for weeks so its sugars deepen before it reaches winter markets.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “butternut” in context.
Verb
01. butternut caramelizes
“The butternut caramelizes nicely when roasted at high heat.”
noun + verb
02. butternut grows
“Butternut grows best in warm soil with plenty of sun.”
noun + verb
03. butternut softens
“The butternut softens after about 25 minutes in the oven.”
noun + verb
04. dice butternut
“Dice the butternut into small cubes for faster roasting.”
verb + noun
05. mash butternut
“Mash the butternut with butter and a pinch of salt.”
verb + noun
Noun
06. bowl of butternut
“She ordered a hot bowl of butternut for lunch.”
noun + prep + noun
07. butternut soup
“We made a warming butternut soup with ginger and coconut milk.”
noun + noun
08. butternut squash
“Butternut squash is my favourite vegetable for autumn cooking.”
noun + noun
09. cube of butternut
“Add a cube of butternut to each bowl of stew.”
noun + prep + noun
10. bowl of butternut soup
“He enjoyed a warm bowl of butternut soup for lunch.”
11. creamy butternut soup
“This creamy butternut soup needs only five ingredients.”
12. peel and dice butternut
“Peel and dice the butternut before you heat the oil.”
Usage
Commonly short for 'butternut squash' in cooking contexts; the tree sense is rarer.
Real-World Examples
“Many recipes call for winter squashes like butternut squash to be peeled before using, but the peel of all squashes is perfectly edible , as are the seeds.” “This is the simplest roasted butternut squash recipe, and it shows off the vegetable’s greatest qualities: custardy, sweet and nutty, with caramelized and crisp outsides.” “I intend to explore this assortment of ten fantastic butternut squash recipes, beginning with Ali Slagle's pasta featuring butternut squash, kale, and brown butter.” - Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/butternut