acorn

Everyday

An acorn is the nut of an oak tree; it is smooth and oval and sits in a little rough cup. tree →

In the lessons

In nature lessons acorns show how a big oak tree grows from a small seed. Squirrels, jays and mice collect and bury acorns for winter. Children gather acorns in autumn for crafts and counting. Saying: Mighty oaks from little acorns grow, meaning big things start small.

Examples

• Squirrels bury acorns in the ground for winter. tree →
• I found a shiny brown acorn in the park. tree →
• An oak tree grows from an acorn. tree →
• The acorn still had its little cup on top. tree →
• We made tiny people out of acorns and pipe cleaners. tree →
• Acorns fall from oak trees in autumn. tree →
• Don't eat raw acorns; they taste bitter and can upset your tummy. tree →
• We collected 12 acorns and gave away 5, so we had 7 left. tree →

Note

Countable noun; use an, not a: an acorn. Raw acorns are not good to eat for people and can make dogs and horses ill. An acorn is a seed (a nut), not a fruit you buy in shops. The cup is called the acorn cup.