Nut Meaning
Nut Definition & Usage
A hard-shelled fruit of certain trees or plants, typically containing a seed that can be eaten. Examples include almonds, walnuts, and hazelnuts.
Examples
- "I love snacking on nuts, especially almonds and cashews."
- "He cracked open the walnut with a nutcracker."
- "The bakery sells fresh nut bread with hazelnuts and walnuts."
- "She added chopped nuts to the salad for some extra crunch."
- "I need to buy a variety of nuts for the trail mix."
A person who is overly enthusiastic or obsessed with a particular activity or subject, often in a way that is considered extreme or eccentric.
Examples
- "He's a real computer nut, always reading about the latest tech."
- "She’s a fitness nut and spends hours at the gym every day."
- "Don't be such a sports nut, there’s more to life than just football."
- "I'm not a fashion nut, but I do enjoy following the latest trends."
- "He's a bit of a history nut, always discussing ancient civilizations."
A crazy or eccentric person; used informally to refer to someone who behaves in an unpredictable or extreme manner.
Examples
- "He’s a total nut—always coming up with bizarre ideas."
- "That guy’s a nut; he thinks he can fly."
- "She’s a bit of a nut, but that’s what makes her fun to be around."
- "He’s a genius, but also a bit of a nut."
- "The party was full of nuts—people doing all sorts of crazy stuff."
To go crazy or act irrationally; to become obsessed with something in an extreme way.
Examples
- "She’s nuts over that new book series and can’t stop reading."
- "Don’t nut out on me; we can figure this out calmly."
- "He’s been nutting about that new video game for weeks."
- "If you keep nutting like that, you’ll make yourself sick."
- "I just want to nut on this project and get it done right."
Cultural Context
Nuts are widely consumed globally and have been for centuries. They are considered a versatile food that can be eaten on their own, added to dishes, or processed into oils and nut butters. The word 'nut' also has a rich colloquial history, where it has come to describe people or behaviors that are perceived as eccentric or overly intense. The usage of 'nut' in describing people can be traced back to the 20th century, often in relation to a person's obsession or enthusiasm for a particular subject or activity.
The Nutty Professor and the Almond Obsession
Story
The Nutty Professor and the Almond Obsession
Professor John Mills had always been a bit of a nut. Not in the sense that he was crazy, but rather that his passion for anything related to almonds bordered on obsession. Every day, his office was filled with jars of almond butter, almond milk, almond flour, and of course, whole almonds, which he would nibble on during lectures. His students loved him for his quirky nature and endless anecdotes about almonds. One day, during a lecture on food chemistry, Professor Mills' obsession took a turn for the extreme. He began talking about the health benefits of almonds for what felt like hours. 'Did you know that almonds are packed with vitamin E, magnesium, and antioxidants?' he asked enthusiastically. 'They are truly a miracle food.' His students exchanged amused glances, knowing this was just another one of the professor's 'nutty' tangents. But then came the fateful day when a visitor from the university administration arrived. 'Professor Mills,' the visitor began, 'we've noticed a rather… unconventional interest in almonds from you. Are you planning to turn the entire campus into a nut-based utopia?' The professor, with his wild, bushy beard and fervent eyes, replied, 'Well, perhaps that's not a bad idea.' It was moments like this, when the line between passion and eccentricity blurred, that made Professor Mills both endearing and slightly worrisome. But as his students saw it, his obsession with almonds was simply a reflection of his dedication to his subject. After all, who wouldn’t want a professor who was so deeply invested in his field? The students, always entertained by the professor’s 'nutty' behavior, secretly voted him 'Most Likely to Become an Almond Ambassador' during their graduation ceremony. Professor Mills never knew the title existed, but he would have been honored nonetheless.
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