coconut

UK: ˈkəʊkənʌt | US: ˈkoʊkənʌt

Definition

  1. n. 1. The large, hard-shelled seed of the coconut palm, lined with edible white flesh and containing a liquid ("coconut water").

  2. n. 2. The tropical palm tree (Cocos nucifera) that produces coconuts.

  3. n. 3. (Informal) The edible white flesh of the coconut, often shredded or used in cooking.

Structure
coco <Spanish/Portuguese for "grinning face" (resembling the three pores on the shell)>nut <hard-shelled seed>
Etymology

The word "coconut" originates from 16th-century Portuguese and Spanish explorers who called it coco, meaning "grinning face" or "monkey face," due to the three indentations on the shell resembling facial features. The English suffix "-nut" was added later to clarify its botanical classification, though coconuts are technically drupes, not true nuts. The term reflects both visual folklore and colonial linguistic adaptation.

Examples

  1. She cracked open the coconut to drink its refreshing water.

  2. Coconut oil is widely used in tropical cuisines and skincare.

  3. The beach was lined with tall coconut palms swaying in the breeze.

  4. He sprinkled shredded coconut over the cake for decoration.

  5. In many cultures, the coconut symbolizes resilience and versatility.