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Glite Dictionary
turban squash

turban squash

7.1
A squash with a hard shell and a rounded top that looks like a hat used for cooking or decoration
  • noun
  • /ˈtɜr.bən skwɑʃ/
translation icon : calabaza turban
  • For Halloween, we decided to decorate the porch with a large turban squash that added a festive touch.

Examples

  • The chef used a turban squash in her autumn soup recipe for added flavor and texture.

  • Likewise, the Calabaza turban squash, which I thought would be watery and nondescript, was a favorite, again for its sweetness, texture, and good flavor.

    Blog text (22)

  • This was a big turban squash, the kind we usually regard as decorative rather than edible, so my expectations were low.

    Blog text (22)

  • I found a beautiful turban squash at the farmer's market, perfect for roasting or display.

Synonyms

squash
vsturban squash
68 1.6

A large edible fruit from plants like pumpkin or zucchini used as a vegetable

is one particular hard shelled ornamentally shaped variety within that family
Cucurbita maxima turbaniformis
vsturban squash
  • Specialized
9.9

A squash plant that makes hard fruits shaped like a turban

is the everyday cooking or decoration name for that same fruit type
pattypan
vsturban squash
7.4

A small round summer squash with a flat top and bottom and wavy edges

is a hard shelled, decorative and cooking variety, not this flat scalloped type

Surface Forms

turban squash singular
turban squashes plural

Morphology

turban + squash

The noun combines the literal meanings of 'turban' (a head-wrapping) and 'squash' (a gourd), so a learner can infer it refers to a squash with a turban-like shape or appearance. This descriptive, form-based naming is cross-linguistically common, so a B1 learner who knows both constituents will very likely understand the meaning.

Etymology

The noun turban squash comes from the vegetable's shape: its top looks like a turban, a 'cloth worn on the head', sitting on the round body of the squash. That's why the name now means this hard shell, hat-shaped squash used for cooking or decoration.