nut
nut [nut nuts nutted nutting] noun, verb BrE [nʌt] NAmE [nʌt]
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. (BrE also nut·ter) (informal)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. nutsplural (slang)a man's ↑testicles
more at use a sledgehammer to crack a nut at ↑sledgehammer
Word Origin:
Old English hnutu, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch noot and German Nuss.
Example Bank:
•The documentary focuses on the real nuts and bolts of the film-making process.
•a jar full of nuts and bolts
•nut-allergy sufferers
•I cracked a nut and ate it.
•She is allergic to nuts.
Idioms: ↑do your nut ▪ ↑hard nut ▪ ↑nuts and bolts ▪ ↑off your nut
Derived: ↑nut something out
verb (-tt-)~ sb (BrE, informal)
to deliberately hit sb hard with your head
• He grabbed my tie and I thought he was going to nut me in the face.
Verb forms: 
Word Origin:
Old English hnutu, of Germanic origin; related to Dutch noot and German Nuss.
See also: ↑nutter
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