tree nut

noun

plural tree nuts

: any of various nuts (see nut entry 1 sense 1b) that grow on trees and that are a common category of allergen

Up to 90 percent of food allergies are caused by just eight things: peanuts, milk, eggs, fish, crustaceans, tree nuts, wheat and soybeans.

—Maryn McKenna

Examples of tree nut in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

While a pumpkin seed allergy is rare, walnuts are a type of tree nut, a common allergen. — Brittany Lubeck, Verywell Health, 28 Oct. 2026

Foods that tend to pull scores lower include fatty fish, leafy greens, fiber-rich foods, and turmeric—and yes, tree nuts like walnuts. — Lauren Manaker Ms, HEALTH, 26 Oct. 2026

The California Department of Public Health said the recall affects pastries with potential exposure to six allergens, including tree nuts, eggs, milk and wheat. — Angela Rodriguez, Sacbee.com, 19 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1906, in the meaning defined above