/ 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 .