nut

Everyday

1. A nut is a fruit with a hard shell and a seed inside that you can often eat, like a walnut or hazelnut. tree →
2. A nut is a small piece of metal with a hole in it that screws onto a bolt to hold things together. tree →
3. (Informal) A nut is a person who is very keen on something, like a football nut, or who acts in a silly, crazy way. tree →

In the lessons

In science, nuts are seeds of trees; squirrels collect and bury them, and some grow into new trees. In health and safety, some people have a nut allergy that can be very dangerous, so many schools are nut-free; never share food with someone who has an allergy. In design and technology, nuts and bolts hold things together. Phrases: «nut allergy», «nut-free», «nuts and bolts» (basic facts), «a hard nut to crack» (a hard problem), «go nuts» (go wild), «in a nutshell» (very briefly).

Examples

• Squirrels bury nuts for the winter. tree →
• Crack the shell to get the nut out. tree →
• Our school is nut-free because some children have allergies. tree →
• My sister has a nut allergy and carries an EpiPen. tree →
• Tighten the nut on the bolt with a spanner. tree →
• He's a real football nut. tree →
• This puzzle is a hard nut to crack. tree →
• In a nutshell, we lost the match. tree →
• So Ib held the nut very tight. tree →

Note

Plural nuts. Peanuts are actually legumes, like peas, not true nuts, but they count for nut allergies. «Nuts» (adjective, informal) means crazy. If someone with a nut allergy has trouble breathing, get an adult and call emergency services immediately.

In Jewish tradition

In science, nuts are seeds of trees; squirrels collect and bury them, and some grow into new trees. In health and safety, some people have a nut allergy that can be very dangerous, so many schools are nut-free; never share food with someone who has an allergy. In design and technology, nuts and bolts hold things together. Phrases: «nut allergy», «nut-free», «nuts and bolts» (basic facts), «a hard nut to crack» (a hard problem), «go nuts» (go wild), «in a nutshell» (very briefly).

Examples

• "lien Sira wanted to study the Sefer Yetzira, when a heav- enly voice came out and snid: 'Thou canst nut do it aloin-'. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Plural nuts. Peanuts are actually legumes, like peas, not true nuts, but they count for nut allergies. «Nuts» (adjective, informal) means crazy. If someone with a nut allergy has trouble breathing, get an adult and call emergency services immediately.