nutshell
NUHT-shehl
Nutshell (noun) means the hard outer covering of a nut. Example: “She cracked the walnut and tossed the nutshell in the bin.”
noun
1
The hard outer covering of a nut.
"She cracked the walnut and tossed the nutshell in the bin."
2
Used in "in a nutshell" to mean a very brief summary.
"In a nutshell, the deal fell through because of the price."
"Can you put the whole plan in a nutshell for me?"
How to use nutshell
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishLiterally the shell around a nut; figuratively, a short and to-the-point summary of something.
Common pairings
in a nutshell
crack a nutshell
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Word forms
- Plural
- nutshells
- Third person singular
- nutshells
- Past tense
- nutshelled
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She cracked the walnut and tossed the _____ in the bin.
Etymology
From Middle English notschelle, from Old English hnutu ("nut") plus sciell ("shell").
Frequently asked questions
What does “nutshell” mean?
The word “nutshell” means the hard outer covering of a nut. In plain terms, literally the shell around a nut; figuratively, a short and to-the-point summary of something.
How do you pronounce “nutshell”?
“Nutshell” is pronounced NUHT-shehl (/ˈnʌt.ʃɛl/ in IPA).
How do you use “nutshell” in a sentence?
Here is “nutshell” used in a sentence: “She cracked the walnut and tossed the nutshell in the bin.”
What part of speech is “nutshell”?
“Nutshell” is a noun.
Where does the word “nutshell” come from?
The word “nutshell” comes from Old English. From Middle English notschelle, from Old English hnutu ("nut") plus sciell ("shell").
Is “nutshell” a common word?
“Nutshell” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “nutshell” have?
“Nutshell” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: the hard outer covering of a nut.
