nut

¹nut

noun \ˈnət\

Definition of NUT

1

a (1) : a hard-shelled dry fruit or seed with a separable rind or shell and interior kernel (2) : the kernel of a nut

b : a dry indehiscent one-seeded fruit with a woody pericarp

2

a : a hard problem or undertaking

b : core, heart

3

: a perforated block usually of metal that has an internal screw thread and is used on a bolt or screw for tightening or holding something

4

: the ridge in a stringed instrument (as a violin) over which the strings pass on the upper end of the fingerboard

5

: a small lump (as of butter)

6

a : a foolish, eccentric, or crazy person

b : enthusiast <a movie nut>

7

plural : nonsense —often used interjectionally

8

slang : a person's head

9

usually vulgar : testis

10

: the amount of money that must be earned in order to break even

11

: en 1

— nut·like \-ˌlīk\ adjective

Examples of NUT

1. The squirrel cracked the nut and ate the meat inside.
2. walnuts, almonds, peanuts, and other nuts
3. The squirrel sat and ate the nut.
4. Are you allergic to nuts?
5. a bowl of nuts and raisins
6. That guy is a real nut.
7. She's a real baseball nut.

Origin of NUT

Middle English nute, note, from Old English hnutu; akin to Old High German nuz nut and perhaps to Latin nux nut

First Known Use: before 12th century

Related to NUT

Synonyms

character, codger, crack, crackbrain, crackpot, crank, flake, fruitcake, head case, kook, eccentric, nutcase, nutter [British slang], oddball, oddity, original, quiz, screwball, weirdo, zany

Antonyms

nonfan

Related Words

bohemian, maverick, nonconformist, quixote; coot, geezer; curio, rarity; freak; fantast, fantastico

Near Antonyms

conformer, conformist, follower, sheep

Rhymes with NUT

but, butt, cut, glut, gut, hut, jut, mutt, putt, rut, scut, shut, slut, smut, soot, strut, tut, ut, what

²nut

intransitive verb

nut·tednut·ting

Definition of NUT

: to gather or seek nuts

First Known Use of NUT

1604