A2noun1K

Nut

UK /["/nʌt/"]/US /["/nʌt/"]/

Definition

a small hard fruit with a very hard shell that grows on some trees

In simple words: A hard seed or fruit with a shell, often used as food.

Examples

  • I like to eat a nut as a healthy snack between meals.
  • Peanuts are technically not nuts, but they are often called nuts.
  • The squirrel hid a nut in the ground for winter.
  • He is a bit of a nut when it comes to his obsession with cars.
  • In electronics, a nut is a fastening device that is used with a bolt.
  • She tightened the nut on the bicycle wheel to make it secure.

Usage notes

Use 'nut' in cooking, snacks, or when talking about healthy foods. It's generally appropriate in casual conversations and writing but may not be used in formal contexts like scientific reports.

Grammar pattern

standalone noun

Memory hint

Think of a 'nut' as a 'hard' shelled snack; they crunch when you bite!

Collocations

  • cashew
  • macadamia
  • pistachio
  • crack
  • shell
  • allergy
  • oil
  • tree
  • put on
  • screw on
  • tighten
  • nuts and bolts

Synonyms

  • seed
  • kernel
  • fruit
  • bean
  • legume

Antonyms

  • seed
  • fruit

Common mistakes

  • Confused with 'knut', which is not a word.
  • Using 'nut' to refer to all seeds, not just hard-shelled ones.
  • Not distinguishing between edible and inedible nuts.