nut

UK: nʌt | US: nʌt

Definition

  1. n. 1. a hard-shelled fruit or seed, often edible (e.g., almond, walnut)

  2. n. 2. a small metal block with a threaded hole for a bolt

  3. n. 3. (slang) an eccentric or crazy person

Structure

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Etymology

The word "nut" traces back to Old English hnutu, from Proto-Germanic hnut-, shared with Dutch noot and German Nuss. Its ancient root likely imitates the sound of cracking a hard shell (compare Proto-Indo-European *knew-, knu-, meaning "to compress"). Over time, it expanded metaphorically to mechanical fasteners (16th c.) and colloquial terms for eccentricity (20th c.).

Examples

  1. She cracked open a walnut with a nutcracker.

  2. Tighten the nut onto the bolt securely.

  3. (Slang) Don’t mind him—he’s a bit of a nut.

  4. Nuts like almonds are rich in healthy fats.

  5. The mechanic replaced the rusted nut on the car’s wheel.