: the drupaceous fruit of a small tree (Prunus dulcis synonym P. amygdalus) of the rose family with flowers and young fruit resembling those of the peach
especially: its ellipsoidal edible kernel used as a nut
This nut is seed of a tree in the rose family, native to Southwest Asia. The tree grows somewhat larger and lives longer than the peach. It is strikingly beautiful when in flower. The nuts are either sweet or bitter. Sweet almonds are the edible type consumed as nuts and used in cooking. The extracted oil of bitter almonds is used to make flavoring extracts for foods and liqueurs. Almonds provide small amounts of protein, iron, calcium, phosphorus, and B vitamins, and are high in fat.
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the WebOther food favorites include fresh fruit like strawberries and almonds: This content is imported from instagram.—Jacqueline Tempera, Women's Health, 3 June 2023 Replace unhealthy ingredients with healthier versions, such as extra virgin olive oil for vegetable oil, oats or almond/nut flour instead of enriched flour or Greek yogurt for sour cream.—Melanie Laughman, The Enquirer, 27 May 2023 Continue whipping until light, fluffy, and holds shape. Notes: Add extracts such as lemon or almond to change flavor profile.—Juliet Pennington, BostonGlobe.com, 24 May 2023 Not only are potatoes better for the planet, but making potato milk from scratch is a much more affordable alternative (a pound of potatoes costs an average of 95 cents, compared to the average of $7.50 per pound of almonds).—Sharon Greenthal, Better Homes & Gardens, 9 May 2023 Here is a list of everything that makes the battery work: Quercetin, a pigment found in almonds and capers, serves as the battery cathode, whereas riboflavin (vitamin B2) makes up the battery anode.—Rupendra Brahambhatt, Ars Technica, 9 May 2023 Pecans Among tree nuts, these pie stars contain the lowest in carbs (four grams per ounce compared to 6 for almonds and 9 for cashews).—Jill Waldbieser, Men's Health, 5 May 2023 Davis — surrounded by fields of sunflowers and tomatoes and orchards of almonds and peaches — is said to be so safe that many residents don’t lock their doors and young children frequently bike or walk to school alone.—Jessica Garrison, Los Angeles Times, 4 May 2023 Mouthfeel is full of coconut milk, almonds and dates aromas.—Joseph V Micallef, Forbes, 4 May 2023 See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'almond.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Middle English almande, from Anglo-French alemande from Late Latin amandula, alteration of Latin amygdala, from Greek amygdalē
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