nut
nuht
Nut (noun) means a hard-shelled seed or dry fruit, often edible. Example: “Squirrels bury a nut in the autumn and often forget where it is.”
noun
1
A hard-shelled seed or dry fruit, often edible.
"Squirrels bury a nut in the autumn and often forget where it is."
"I'm allergic to every kind of nut, so I always check the labels."
"She sprinkled chopped nuts over the salad."
2
A small piece of hardware with a threaded hole, used with a bolt to fasten things together.
"The mechanic found a loose nut under the car and tightened it."
"You'll need a bolt and a matching nut to fix the shelf to the wall."
"He tightened the nut on the bicycle wheel with a wrench."
3
Informal: a crazy or eccentric person, or an enthusiast for a particular subject.
"Our neighbour is a train nut who knows every timetable by heart."
"His uncle is a bit of a nut, but harmless."
"She's a real fitness nut."
verb
1
Slang: to headbutt someone.
"The footballer was banned after he nutted an opponent in the heat of the match."
"Witnesses said the man nutted the doorman before running away down the street."
"He nutted the other player during the argument and was sent off."
How to use nut
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishA hard-shelled edible seed, a threaded metal fastener, or slang for someone eccentric or obsessed with something.
When to use it
The "crazy person" and "headbutt" senses are informal; avoid them in formal writing.
Common pairings
nuts and bolts
fitness nut
a tough nut to crack
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Word forms
- Plural
- nuts
- Third person singular
- nuts
- Past tense
- nutted
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Squirrels bury a _____ in the autumn and often forget where it is.
Etymology
From Old English hnutu, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "nut", possibly related to Latin nux.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for nut
See all rhymes for nut →Frequently asked questions
What does “nut” mean?
The word “nut” means a hard-shelled seed or dry fruit, often edible. In plain terms, a hard-shelled edible seed, a threaded metal fastener, or slang for someone eccentric or obsessed with something.
How do you pronounce “nut”?
“Nut” is pronounced nuht (/nʌt/ in IPA).
How do you use “nut” in a sentence?
Here is “nut” used in a sentence: “She sprinkled chopped nuts over the salad.”
What part of speech is “nut”?
Depending on how it is used, “nut” can be a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “nut” come from?
The word “nut” comes from Latin. From Old English hnutu, from a Proto-Germanic root meaning "nut", possibly related to Latin nux.
Is “nut” a common word?
“Nut” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “nut” have?
“Nut” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a hard-shelled seed or dry fruit, often edible.
What is the difference between a nut and a seed?
In everyday language, a nut is any edible kernel in a hard shell. Botanically, a nut is a dry, hard-shelled fruit that does not split open on its own, while a seed is the part of a plant from which a new plant grows, so every true nut contains a seed, but many 'nuts' we eat are technically seeds.
Is a peanut a true nut?
No. Peanuts are legumes, related to peas and beans, and they grow underground in pods. They are called nuts in everyday speech because of their hard shell, taste, and use, not because of their botany.
What is the difference between a nut and a bolt?
A bolt is a threaded metal pin or rod; a nut is the small piece of hardware with a threaded hole that screws onto it. Together they clamp parts firmly, and the pairing is so familiar that 'nuts and bolts' has come to mean the basic practical details of anything.
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