English Reference
Noun

donut

n. countable
A2 Elementary US /ˈdoʊˌnət/ UK /dˈəʊnʌt/ donut UK spelling donuts

n.a small, sweet cake that is shaped like a ring or a ball and is usually fried. You often find them covered in sugar, frosting, or filled with jam.

n.a small fried cake of sweetened dough, typically ring-shaped or spherical and often filled or glazed.


SIMPLE

I bought a chocolate donut for breakfast.

CONTEXTUAL

The office manager brought a dozen fresh donuts to the meeting to celebrate the team's success.

COMPLEX

While the classic glazed ring remains a staple of the industry, many modern bakeries now experiment with savory fillings and sourdough bases to reinvent the traditional donut.

Usage

The spelling 'donut' is primarily American; 'doughnut' is the standard British English form.


Alteration of doughnut, from dough + nut. Attested 1900.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry
Level A2 · Elementary
Frequency Frequent
Updated