Home Dictionary Nnut

nut

A fruit consisting of a hard or tough shell around an edible kernel. / A small metal square or hexagonal piece with a threaded hole, used to tighten a bolt. / An eccentric or foolish person; (informal) someone who is very enthusiastic about a specific interest. / To fasten something with a nut.

Transitive Verb[C/U] Both

pl: nuts

The word carries a duality between hard physical structures and mental instability or obsession. In its botanical and mechanical senses, it evokes images of hardness, containment, and security.

When applied to people, the connotation shifts based on context. It can be derogatory, suggesting someone is "crazy" or mentally unstable (often implying a chaotic or unpredictable nature).

Conversely, in modern informal usage, it often describes an intense, singular passion. Calling someone a "fitness nut" typically conveys a sense of obsessive dedication rather than mental illness, often with a slightly playful or admiring tone.

Countable when referring to individual seeds, pieces of hardware, or eccentric people. Uncountable when referring to nuts as a general food category or bulk ingredient.