ENGLISH
REFERENCE

pumpkin

n.
US //ˈpəmkɪn// UK //pˈʌmpkɪn// pump·kin
  1. 1 the fruit or vegetable (n.)
    A2 Elementary

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

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

    Example

    We carved a scary face into a pumpkin for the party.

    Example

    The farmer displayed his prize-winning pumpkin, which weighed over four hundred kilograms, at the local agricultural fair.
  2. 2 as food (n.)
    B1 Intermediate Cooking

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

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

    Example

    I love eating warm pumpkin soup on a cold winter day.

    Example

    The chef roasted the pumpkin with sage and nutmeg to enhance its natural sweetness before blending it into a smooth purée.

  3. 3 term of endearment (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate Informal American English

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

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

    Example

    Goodnight, pumpkin, sleep well.

    Example

    She often called her youngest daughter 'pumpkin' as a playful nickname when they were out shopping together.
  4. 4 the colour (n.)
    B2 Upper Intermediate

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

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

    Example

    The walls of the kitchen were painted a bright pumpkin shade.

    Example

    The interior designer suggested a pumpkin accent wall to provide a warm contrast against the cool grey furniture in the living room.
Origin

Alteration of pompion, pumpion (“pumpkin”) with the diminutive -kin, from Middle French pompon, from Latin pepō (whence English pepo), from Ancient Greek πέπων (pépōn, “large melon”), from πέπων (pépōn, “ripe”), from πέπτω (péptō, “ripen”). The first attestation is from 1647. The alternative theory that it may be from Massachusett pôhpukun (“grows forth round”) is false. The automotive sense is by fancied resemblance.

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

Idioms3 entries

Last updated June 20, 2026