chestnut

noun

chest·nut | \ ˈches(t)-(ˌ)nət

Definition of chestnut

(Entry 1 of 2)

1a : any of a genus (Castanea) of trees or shrubs of the beech family especially : an American tree (C. dentata) that was formerly a dominant or codominant member of many deciduous forests of the eastern U.S. but has now been largely eliminated by the chestnut blight and seldom grows beyond the shrub or sapling stage

b : the edible nut of a chestnut

c : the wood of a chestnut

2 : a grayish to reddish brown

3 : horse chestnut

4 : a chestnut-colored animal specifically : a horse having a body color of any shade of pure or reddish brown with mane, tail, and points of the same or a lighter shade — compare bay entry 2 sense 1, sorrel entry 1 sense 1

5 : a callosity on the inner side of the leg of the horse — see horse illustration

6a : an old joke or story

b : something (such as a musical piece or a saying) repeated to the point of staleness

chestnut

adjective

Definition of chestnut (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : of the color chestnut

2 : of, relating to, or resembling a chestnut

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Examples of chestnut in a Sentence

Noun

an op-ed piece that's offers nothing but warmed-over chestnuts for solving the city's financial woes

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

Staff in kimonos tuck each pair into bamboo and chestnut cubbies lining the long entryway, and guests walk barefoot into an almost achingly detailed interior, where tradition slips into every nook. — Keith Flanagan, Condé Nast Traveler, "35 Best Hotels in Tokyo," 28 Feb. 2018 Auburns, chestnuts and coppers sweep across an unpolished canvas, creating a bold yet classic focal point that’s great for any space. — Good Housekeeping, "Bold, Classic Style for Any Space," 14 Aug. 2018 Passengers may pre-order chocolate mousse, fresh fruit cream, chestnut cream, strawberry mousse, mango mousse, or cheesecake to their seat. — Cynthia Drescher, Condé Nast Traveler, "Yep, In-Flight Cake Deliveries Are a Real Thing," 10 July 2018 Aspiring artist Nick Hoel is raised on an Iowa farm where a single surviving chestnut stands sentinel over the prairie. — Dan Cryer, San Francisco Chronicle, "‘The Overstory,’ by Richard Powers," 5 Apr. 2018 Today her chestnut hair is cropped into a stylish pixie that’s just starting to grow out. — Nathan Heller, Vogue, "Claire Foy on Becoming a Mother and Trading Her Crown for a Dragon Tattoo," 10 Oct. 2018 This is an old chestnut that's prompted litigation and controversy before. — Sam Blum, Popular Mechanics, "That Radar Speed Road Sign Might Be Saving Your License Plate for Later," 1 Oct. 2018 The model attended a Bulgari dinner in Rome on Thursday night looking practically unrecognizable with her pin-straight chestnut hair stretched all the way down her back. — Zoë Weiner, Teen Vogue, "Bella Hadid Debuts Sleek New Hairstyle at Bulgari Dinner in Rome," 29 June 2018 And this white-whiskered one, characterized by its black, sleek, coat, interwoven with ripples of chestnut red, is only found in small pockets of Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru. — Lucy Sherriff, Condé Nast Traveler, "A Safari in Colombia's Still-Wild Amazon Rainforest," 23 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'chestnut.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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Dictionary Entries near chestnut

chestnut-backed chickadee

chestnut bean

chestnut blight

Statistics for chestnut

Last Updated

9 Jan 2019

Look-up Popularity

Time Traveler for chestnut

The first known use of chestnut was in 1519

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More Definitions for chestnut

chestnut

noun

English Language Learners Definition of chestnut

(Entry 1 of 2)

: a type of tree that produces large, sweet nuts that can be eaten

: the nut of a chestnut tree

: the wood of a chestnut tree

chestnut

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of chestnut (Entry 2 of 2)

: of a reddish-brown color

See the full definition for chestnut in the English Language Learners Dictionary

chestnut

noun

chest·nut | \ ˈches-ˌnət

Kids Definition of chestnut

1 : a sweet edible nut that grows in burs on a tree related to the beech

2 : a reddish brown

chestnut

noun

chest·nut | \ ˈches-(ˌ)nət

Medical Definition of chestnut

1a : a tree or shrub of the genus Castanea (C. dentata) that is found in eastern North America and the leaf of which was formerly used to prepare an infusion for the treatment of whooping cough

b : the edible nut of a chestnut

2 : a callosity on the inner side of the leg of the horse