noun
acorn
AY-kawn
Acorn (noun) means the nut of the oak tree, oval-shaped and sitting in a small woody cup. Example: “Squirrels buried acorns all over the garden for winter.”
noun
1
The nut of the oak tree, oval-shaped and sitting in a small woody cup.
"Squirrels buried acorns all over the garden for winter."
"An acorn fell and bounced off the car roof."
How to use acorn
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe nut produced by oak trees, often collected by squirrels.
Common mistake
Not related to "corn" despite the spelling — that's a historical coincidence.
Common pairings
oak and acorn
acorn squash
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Word forms
- Plural
- acorns
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Squirrels buried _____ all over the garden for winter.
Etymology
From Old English æcern ("acorn, nut"), later respelled to look like "corn" even though the two words aren't related.
Frequently asked questions
What does “acorn” mean?
The word “acorn” means the nut of the oak tree, oval-shaped and sitting in a small woody cup. In plain terms, the nut produced by oak trees, often collected by squirrels.
How do you pronounce “acorn”?
“Acorn” is pronounced AY-kawn (/ˈeɪ.kɔɹn/ in IPA).
How do you use “acorn” in a sentence?
Here is “acorn” used in a sentence: “Squirrels buried acorns all over the garden for winter.”
What part of speech is “acorn”?
“Acorn” is a noun.
Where does the word “acorn” come from?
The word “acorn” comes from Old English. From Old English æcern ("acorn, nut"), later respelled to look like "corn" even though the two words aren't related.
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