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

Others communicate a new space between cultures: plantain upside-down cake, collard greens empanadas, and guava cream cheese doughnuts. —Kendra Nordin Beato, The Christian Science Monitor, 12 Dec. 2024

Although the doughnut vendor promptly launched an investigation, it’s been working to restore its online ordering system due to the cyber incident. —Michael Kan, PCMAG, 11 Dec. 2024

Also coming to Bay View's food scene: Two new, casual East Asian restaurants with spring rolls, mochi doughnuts and tea. —Hope Karnopp, Journal Sentinel, 2 Dec. 2024

After a fire in May forced Krispy Kreme to temporarily shut down its Bardstown Road location, the store has reopened, once again serving doughnuts under its iconic Hot Light. —Olivia Evans, The Courier-Journal, 28 Nov. 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