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nut Definition

nut (nut)

noun

  1. the dry, one-seeded fruit of any of various trees or shrubs, consisting of a kernel, often edible, in a hard and woody or tough and leathery shell, more or less separable from the seed itself, as the walnut, pecan, chestnut, acorn, etc.
  2. the kernel, or meat, of such a fruit
  3. loosely any hard-shell fruit that will keep more or less indefinitely, as a peanut, almond, etc.
  4. a small block, usually of metal, with a threaded hole through the center, for screwing onto a bolt, screw, etc.
    1. a ridge of ebony or other hard material at the top of the fingerboard of a stringed instrument, over which the strings pass
    2. the small knob at the end of a violin bow, for tightening or loosening the hairs
  6. Informal the initial cost of an undertaking, or the amount of money it is necessary to take in before a profit is realized on it
  7. Slang
    1. the head
    2. the testicles: a vulgar usage
  8. Slang
    1. a foolish, crazy, or eccentric person
    2. a devotee; fan
  9. Printing en (sense )

Etymology: ME nutte < OE hnutu, akin to Ger nuss < IE *kneu-, lump, nut (< base *ken-, to squeeze together) > L nux, MIr cnū

intransitive verb nut′·ted, nut′·ting

to hunt for or gather nuts

nut Idioms

hard nut to crack

or tough nut to crack

a person, problem, or thing difficult to understand or deal with

off one's nut

Slang foolish, silly, or crazy

nut Synonyms

nut

n.

  1. A dry fruit

    seed, kernel, stone, achene, caryopsis, utricle; see also fruit 1.

    Common nuts include: peanut, acorn, beechnut, hazelnut, black walnut, English walnut, almond, nutmeg, pecan, filbert, coconut, pistachio, cashew, hognut, chestnut, water chestnut, butternut, kola; hickory, swamp hickory, pine, Brazil, macadamia, groundnut, ginkgo, quandong, betel nut.

  2. A threaded metal block

    bur, lock nut, cap, ratchet nut, bolt nut, screw nut, jam nut; see also bolt 1.

  3. *An eccentric or insane person

    eccentric, fanatic, maniac; see zealot.

  4. *The head

    crown, skull, brain; see cranium, head 1.

hard (<strong><em>or</em> </strong>tough) nut to crack

problem, responsibility, burden; see difficulty 1, 2.

off one's nut*

silly, crazy, eccentric; see insane 1.

nut Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • tighten: The need to tighten every nut yourself is an understandable flaw among creatives.
  • undo: A 24mm socket will be needed with an amount of force to undo the nut.
  • loosen: Then jack up the car after loosening the wheel nuts and remove the wheel.
  • chop: The society is appealing for people to leave out a little dog or cat food or some chopped nuts.
  • crack: A wheel wrench with a telescopic extending handle makes cracking the nuts much easier, with less chance of grazed knuckles!
  • roast: Food Choice: Great on its own, or pair with roasted nuts or seafood.

Adjective modifier

  • pistachio: In " Naked Gun " , Leslie and George are seated in a car, munching pistachio nuts.
  • hazel: Both species compete for the food resource of hazel nuts.
  • unsalted: Crunchy carrot sticks or unsalted nuts make a tasty alternative to crisps.
  • dies(some: Ted Barney # re: Xbox: High Quality Halo 2 Screenshots & Lets sue Microsoft if your Xbox dies(some nut )!
  • tough: Links with the PCT remain a tough nut to crack.
  • castellated: I replaced the link bolt and found a new split pin for putting through the castellated nut.

Modifies a noun

  • allergy: We let people with nut allergies make up their own minds.
  • roast: Sample menu: Lasagna, nut roast, vegan cheese pie, tofu burgers.

Noun used with modifier

  • cashew: Avoid dishes with cashew nuts they are over 50 % fat!
  • brazil: Go nutty - have a handful of cashew nuts, peanuts, almonds or brazil nuts these provide you with healthy fats.
  • pine: This time they were given a meal of pine nuts.
  • macadamia: Hawaii and Australia are the two biggest producers of the highly priced macadamia nuts.
  • pecan: Garden Burger A veggie burger made from peppers, mushrooms and pecan nuts.
  • betel: Availability In the UK: A pound of dried betel nut retails in the UK for around £ 15.
nut Quotes

All true histories contain instruction; though in some, the treasure may be hard to find, and when found, so trivial in quantity that the dry, shrivelled kernel scarcely compensates for the trouble of cracking the nut.

—Bronte«  , Anne

BBC Radio is a never-never land of broadcasting, a safe haven from commercial considerations, a honey pot for every scholar and every hare-brained nut to stick a finger into.

—Safer, Morley

We're heading into nut country today.

—Kennedy,John F(itzgerald)

The nuttis schell, thocht it be hard and teuch, Haldis the kirnell, sueit and delectabill; Sa lyis thair ane doctrine wyse aneuch And full of frute vnder ane fenyeit fabill.

—Henryson, Robert