NUT


Meaning of NUT in English

/ nʌt; NAmE / noun , verb

■ noun

1.

(often in compounds) a small hard fruit with a very hard shell that grows on some trees :

to crack a nut (= open it)

a Brazil nut

a hazelnut

nuts and raisins

—see also monkey nut

2.

a small piece of metal with a hole through the centre that is screwed onto a bolt to hold pieces of wood, machinery, etc. together :

to tighten a nut

a wheel nut

3.

( BrE , slang ) a person's head or brain

4.

( informal ) ( BrE also nut·ter ) a strange or crazy person :

He's a complete nut, if you ask me.

—see also nuts , nutty

5.

( informal ) (in compounds) a person who is extremely interested in a particular subject, activity, etc. :

a fitness / tennis / computer, etc. nut

6.

nuts [ pl. ] ( slang ) a man's testicles

IDIOMS

- do your nut

- a hard / tough nut

- a hard / tough nut (to crack)

- the nuts and bolts (of sth)

- off your nut

—more at sledgehammer

■ verb

[ vn ] ( -tt- ) ( BrE , informal ) to deliberately hit sb hard with your head

PHRASAL VERBS

- nut sth out

••

WORD ORIGIN

Old English hnutu , of Germanic origin; related to Dutch noot and German Nuss .

Oxford Advanced Learner's English Dictionary.      Оксфордский английский словарь для изучающик язык на продвинутом уровне.