noun

nutmeg

NUHT-mehg

Nutmeg (noun) means the aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree, ground and used as a spice. Example: “She grated fresh nutmeg over the eggnog.”

noun

The aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree, ground and used as a spice.

"She grated fresh nutmeg over the eggnog."

In football and similar sports, the act of passing the ball through an opponent's legs.

"The winger embarrassed the defender with a cheeky nutmeg."

verb

To pass the ball between an opponent's legs.

"He nutmegged the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home."

How to Use Nutmeg

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishA warm cooking spice from a tropical tree, and in football slang, kicking the ball through someone's legs.

Common pairings

grated nutmeg a pinch of nutmeg nutmeg the defender

Word Forms

nutmegged past tense, nutmegs plural, nutmegs singular

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She grated fresh _____ over the eggnog.

Etymology

From Middle English notemuge, a partial translation of Medieval Latin nux muscata, "musky nut".

Origin: Medieval Latin

Synonyms

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nutmeg tree

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “nutmeg” mean?

The word “nutmeg” means the aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree, ground and used as a spice. In plain terms, a warm cooking spice from a tropical tree, and in football slang, kicking the ball through someone's legs.

How do you pronounce “nutmeg”?

“Nutmeg” is pronounced NUHT-mehg (/ˈnʌt.mɛɡ/ in IPA).

How do you use “nutmeg” in a sentence?

Here is “nutmeg” used in a sentence: “She grated fresh nutmeg over the eggnog.”

What part of speech is “nutmeg”?

Depending on how it is used, “nutmeg” can be a noun and a verb.

Where does the word “nutmeg” come from?

The word “nutmeg” comes from Medieval Latin. From Middle English notemuge, a partial translation of Medieval Latin nux muscata, "musky nut".

How many meanings does “nutmeg” have?

“Nutmeg” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree, ground and used as a spice.