Definitions
01the fruit
A2 · Elementary Countable noun
n. a large, round fruit with a hard brown shell, white flesh, and liquid inside.
n. the large, fibrous-husked fruit of the coconut palm, containing a hard-shelled seed with edible white endosperm and clear liquid.
“He used a heavy knife to crack open the coconut and drink the water inside.”
“The chef demonstrated how to extract the milk from a fresh coconut by grating the white flesh and pressing it through a fine cloth.”
02the tree
B1 · Intermediate Countable noun
n. the tall tropical palm tree that produces coconuts.
n. the coconut palm (Cocos nucifera), a tall, branchless tropical tree with a crown of large pinnate leaves.
“The beach was lined with tall coconuts that provided some shade from the sun.”
“The plantation consisted of thousands of coconuts, each carefully spaced to ensure maximum yield during the harvest season.”
Synonyms
03the head
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Informal · British English
n. a person's head.
n. the human head, often used in the context of being hit or struck.
“Watch out for that low beam or you will hit your coconut.”
“The comedian made a joke about falling over and nearly cracking his coconut on the pavement.”
Synonyms
04offensive ethnic slur
C2 · Proficiency Countable noun Slang · Vulgar
n. an insulting word for a person of color who is accused of acting like a white person.
n. a derogatory ethnic slur directed at a person of color perceived as having assimilated into white culture, implying they are 'brown on the outside, white on the inside'.
“The politician was hurt when protesters called him a coconut during the rally.”
“The use of the term 'coconut' in the debate was widely condemned as a racist attack on the candidate's cultural identity.”
Usage
This term is highly offensive and should be avoided.
Teaching tip
This sense is extremely derogatory; learners should be aware of its offensive nature to avoid using it accidentally.
Etymology
From coco + nut. In reference to assimilated Hispanic or black people, derived from the fruit's exotic origins. The slur originates from the idea that one is "brown on the outside, white on the inside". In reference to Polynesians, from the ubiquity of coconut palms in the area.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.A2 KeyIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.3.0–4.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 2.0–2.524–43TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.225–549
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- A2 · Elementary
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/coconut
‘외래어’ data: 한국어기초사전 (국립국어원), CC BY-SA 2.0 KR