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
1
The aromatic seed of the nutmeg tree, ground and used as a spice.
"She grated fresh nutmeg over the eggnog."
2
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
1
To pass the ball between an opponent's legs.
"He nutmegged the goalkeeper before slotting the ball home."
How to use nutmeg
Learner’s notesIn 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
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Word forms
- Plural
- nutmegs
- Third person singular
- nutmegs
- Past tense
- nutmegged
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She grated fresh _____ over the eggnog.
Etymology
From Middle English notemuge, a partial translation of Medieval Latin nux muscata, "musky nut".
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.
