piñon

noun

pi·​ñon ˈpin-ˌyōn 

-ˌyän,

-yən;

pin-ˈyōn

variants or pinyon

plural piñons or pinyons or piñones pin-ˈyō-nēz 

: any of various small pines (such as Pinus quadrifolia, P. cembroides, P. edulis, and P. monophylla) of western North America with edible seeds

also : the edible seed of a piñon

Examples of piñon in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Finley split pinon kindling burns in fire pits across the property. —Chadd Scott, Forbes, 2 Jan. 2025

Stargazing here engages all the senses: Listen for hoots and howls from the owls and coyotes that call the park home and take in the scents of pinon pines and juniper on summer nights. —Brittany Anas, The Denver Post, 25 June 2024

However, elk also thrive in lower-elevation landscapes, especially in the West, where prairie grasses provide year-round sustenance and dense pockets of cedar and pinon give elk enough cover. —Jace Bauserman, Field & Stream, 22 Feb. 2024

The listing requires that state and federal agencies manage threats to the daisy and its primary domain high on Conglomerate Mesa, a 22,500-acre chunk of pinon pines, rock spires and limestone located about 10 miles southeast of Lone Pine, a town in the Eastern Sierra Nevada. —Louis Sahagún, Los Angeles Times, 11 Oct. 2023

In addition to new safety advances, and new technology such as independent rear suspension, rack and pinon steering and larger brakes, the car features some universal parts that are single sourced. —Greg Engle, Forbes, 30 Apr. 2022

There are open areas of prairie-like landscape, big hills covered with pinon and cedar trees and deep canyons. —Jace Bauserman, Outdoor Life, 23 Dec. 2020

New Mexico Glorieta Mesa: An effort to trim the density of pinon and juniper trees near Canoncito is drawing criticism from some residents. —USA TODAY, 9 Jan. 2020

Dine Nez was a shepherd on the high mesa of the reservation near Jones Ranch, where rolling hills of pinon, ponderosa, juniper and oak are divided by lush meadows and deep canyons. —Betty Reid, azcentral, 29 Aug. 2019

Word History

Etymology

American Spanish piñón, from Spanish, pine nut, from piña pine cone, from Latin pinea — more at pineal

First Known Use

1831, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

piñon

noun

pi·​ñon

variants or pinyon

ˈpin-ˌyōn  -ˌyän 

-yən;

pin-ˈyōn

plural piñons or pinyons or piñones pin-ˈyō-nēz 

: any of various small pines of western North America with edible seeds

also : the edible seed of a piñon