# pumpkin

/ˈpəmkɪn/ (US) · /pˈʌmpkɪn/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/pumpkin
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. the fruit or vegetable

noun · CEFR A2

a large, round vegetable with a thick orange skin and many seeds inside.

For teachers: the large, round, orange fruit of a plant in the squash family, typically harvested in autumn.

- We carved a scary face into a pumpkin for the party.
- The farmer displayed his prize-winning pumpkin, which weighed over four hundred kilograms, at the local agricultural fair.

### 2. as food

noun · CEFR B1

the orange flesh of this vegetable used in cooking, like in soup or pie.

For teachers: the edible flesh of the pumpkin fruit, treated as an uncountable substance in culinary contexts.

- I love eating warm pumpkin soup on a cold winter day.
- The chef roasted the pumpkin with sage and nutmeg to enhance its natural sweetness before blending it into a smooth purée.

### 3. term of endearment

noun · CEFR B2 · Informal · American English

a sweet name you call someone you love, like a child or a partner.

For teachers: a term of endearment used to address a person, typically a child or romantic partner, implying they are cute or precious.

- Goodnight, pumpkin, sleep well.
- She often called her youngest daughter 'pumpkin' as a playful nickname when they were out shopping together.

### 4. the colour

noun · CEFR B2

a bright, warm orange colour like the skin of the vegetable.

For teachers: a moderate to vivid orange colour resembling the rind of a ripe pumpkin.

- The walls of the kitchen were painted a bright pumpkin shade.
- The interior designer suggested a pumpkin accent wall to provide a warm contrast against the cool grey furniture in the living room.

## Examples

- We carved a scary face into the pumpkin.
- Every October, the local farm sells hundreds of pumpkins to families preparing for the holiday.
- The chef prepared a seasonal menu featuring roasted pumpkin seeds and a creamy squash soup served inside a hollowed-out gourd.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.