peanut

Everyday

1. A small oval seed that grows in a shell under the ground and is eaten as a snack, roasted or salted. tree →
2. "Peanuts" can also mean a very small amount of money: "He works for peanuts." tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life peanuts are eaten as snacks, in peanut butter and in sauces. In health and safety lessons peanuts matter because some people have a serious peanut allergy, so many schools are "nut-free". In science, the peanut is really a legume, like peas and beans, not a true nut. Phrases: peanut butter, peanut allergy, salted peanuts, for peanuts.

Examples

• I like peanut butter on toast. tree →
• Elephants in cartoons eat peanuts. tree →
• Leo has a peanut allergy, so he checks every label. tree →
• Our school is a nut-free zone. tree →
• The peanut grows under the ground. tree →
• We shared a bag of roasted peanuts at the game. tree →
• She sold her old bike for peanuts. tree →

Note

Countable: one peanut, many peanuts. The British also say "groundnut" or "monkey nut" for a peanut in its shell. Trap: a peanut is not a true nut but a legume, like a pea or a bean. Safety: a peanut allergy can be very dangerous, even from a tiny amount; never share food with someone who has an allergy, and tell an adult at once if someone has trouble breathing after eating. Whole peanuts can make small children choke.