doughnut

noun

dough·​nut ˈdō-(ˌ)nət 

variants or less commonly donut

1

: a small usually ring-shaped piece of sweet fried dough

2

: something (such as a mathematical torus) that has a round shape like a doughnut

3

: a controlled skid that sends an automobile into a tight circle of at least 360 degrees

—usually used in the phrase do doughnuts

Doing doughnuts? You haven't heard about this? This is what they steal the cars for. Top speed, they slam on the brakes, yank the emergency brake, twist the steering wheel, and the car starts spinning. Wheeling the car in circles at tremendous speeds.

—Philip Roth

doughnutlike

ˈdō-(ˌ)nət-ˌlīk 

adjective

Examples of doughnut in a Sentence

drawing doughnuts in the sand

Recent Examples on the Web

The food hall features a number of local merchants selling everything from sushi to pizza to hot dogs to classic soul food to mini doughnuts. —Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 5 Jan. 2025

Lava Cake drinks, doughnut join the lineup Dunkin' is also releasing a new lava cake and chocolate line, including a Lava Cake Signature Latte (hot or iced), Lava Cake Signature Coffee (hot or iced) and Chocolate Whoopie Pie Specialty Donut. —Greta Cross, USA TODAY, 30 Dec. 2024

With a squeeze tube or piping bag, add your favorite jelly or jam to the doughnuts. —Christine Rousselle, Fox News, 21 Dec. 2024

What to expect: In addition to doughnuts, expect coffee and other pastries. —Alexis Clinton, Axios, 19 Dec. 2024

Word History

Etymology

dough + nut entry 1 (in sense "rounded cake or biscuit," as in ginger nut, spice nut)

First Known Use

1782, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

doughnut

noun

dough·​nut

variants also donut

-(ˌ)nət

1

: a small ring of sweet dough fried in fat

2

: something resembling a doughnut especially in shape